The editorial department of Monthly Shonen Gangan has confirmed the passing of manga artist Yōko Umezu, who died on July 7 due to a cerebral infarction. A private funeral service was held for the artist, attended by her immediate family.
Following the news, the editorial staff confirmed that Vermeil in Gold, the fantasy series Umezu co-created with writer Kōta Amana, has officially concluded. The final chapter, published in the magazine's July issue on June 12, serves as the series' endpoint. While the manga ran for 11 volumes, the publisher has promised to provide updates regarding the release of remaining uncollected chapters in the near future.
Umezu was a recognizable talent in the industry, having launched the Vermeil in Gold adaptation in 2018. The series, which follows a struggling magic student who accidentally summons a powerful demon, was later adapted into a 12-episode anime by Staple Entertainment during the Summer 2022 season. Beyond her work in the ecchi-fantasy genre, Umezu was also known for her work on the Minidura spin-off manga, a project based on Ryohgo Narita’s celebrated Durarara!! light novel series, which she illustrated from 2013 to 2015.
