Mangaka Izumi Matsumoto Dies at 61

by DatRandomDude
Oct 12, 2020 7:02 PM | 40 Comments

On Tuesday, Wave Studio announced on Izumi Matsumoto's blog that the mangaka passed away on October 6. He was 61 years old.

Matsumoto suffered from cerebrospinal fluid disease, stemming from a car accident when he was three years old. The disease forced him to stop working due to heavy headache, neck, and back pain. He suffered from general malaise due to the disease over the last few years. However, Matsumoto desired to return to work and continued to fight the illness, but was also worried due to a heart surgery he had several years ago. Last November, Matsumoto revealed on his blog that he had spinal stenosis. Matsumoto passed away in his sleep without suffering, according to his doctor.

Matsumoto is well known for creating the romantic comedy manga Kimagure Orange☆Road, which he serialized from March 1984 to September 1987 in Weekly Shounen Jump. Digital Manga Publishing released the manga in English digitally in 20 volumes between April 4 to November 26 in 2014. The publisher launched a kickstarter campaign in April 2016 to physically publish the series, and successfully reached its goal the following month.

Studio Pierrot adapted the manga into a 48-episode television anime that aired from April 1987 to March 1988, followed by two sequel films in 1988 and 1996. The manga also received an eight-episode original video anime, which was released between March 1989 and April 1991.

AnimEigo licensed and released the television series, original video episodes, and the first film with English subtitles in the 1990s. The distributor's license for the anime series expired in 2006. Discotek Media relicenced all three installments in August 2018 and released them in two Blu-ray sets in March and August last year. ADV Films licensed and released the second film in English with both subtitles and dub on VHS and DVD in 1998 and 2001, respectively.

Source: Oricon News

Mangaka Life Event

20 of 40 Comments Recent Comments

Rip Izumi Matsumoto Sensei . We will miss you . We love you .

Jul 18, 2021 4:50 PM by Jevasamy

I just realized he died exactly 1 week before his birthday. His death was announced on his birthday.

Oct 19, 2020 6:00 AM by Lucifrost

Rest in Peace Matsumoto-sensei. Thank you for everything you give the people.

Oct 19, 2020 5:59 AM by -w-Kyoshiro-w-

Rest In Peace,Sir

Oct 19, 2020 5:54 AM by NoonDaMoon

What terrible news.
Every time someone like him dies, the whole world of anime/manga loses a star.
R.i.p. Sensei

Oct 17, 2020 5:59 PM by _olimpio

welp.... the car accident killed him 58 years later it seems RIP Matsumoto sensei

Oct 17, 2020 2:09 PM by Konan_Edogawa_

I'm stunned by this news. My condolences to the family and friends.

Oct 16, 2020 7:18 PM by Bastet09

I completely loved Kimagure Orange Road. Rest In Peace Sensei :´c

Oct 15, 2020 7:17 PM by Sealjani

Rest in peace. I watched the anime earlier this year. I enjoyed his work. Madoka

Oct 15, 2020 7:09 AM by Fafano16

Rest well Sensei.

Oct 15, 2020 5:40 AM by hozushiki

He was still young, it´s really sad. I still haven´t read KOR, but I always found the art pretty. Rest in peace.

Oct 14, 2020 3:27 PM by HitsujiOu

Rest in peace, sensei!

Oct 14, 2020 2:07 PM by xchyssa

Wow, after all the pain he went through... at least his passing was painless.

Rest in Peace.

Oct 14, 2020 12:14 PM by Toarujisuru

Rest in peace King

Oct 14, 2020 9:24 AM by Hatsuyuki

This is heartbreaking. I'm am glad however that he had a painless death. Such a tragic life. I haven't read his work but this news hit me hard.

Oct 14, 2020 5:57 AM by CataOrShane

R.I.P Matsumoto. I haven't read your works, but I know how influential it is, thank you for being you.

Oct 14, 2020 5:01 AM by Inudrew

Rest in peace Matsumoto

Oct 14, 2020 1:43 AM by Aniulka1126

Sad to see him go, rest in peace.

Oct 13, 2020 10:59 PM by MegamiRem

RIP, Kimagure Orange☆Road is probably one of the first anime I've ever heard of and yet have never been able to get to.

Oct 13, 2020 5:07 PM by ChartTopper60

Sad to hear because Kimagure Orange Road had such a profound impact on me during my teenage years and remains one of my all time favorite works. He was fighting that condition for a long time, difficult with the more recent relapse as well due to the accident. Equally as sad as when Ayukawa Madoka's seiyuu Tsuru Hiromi passed away. Painful that such great, talented people are passing so soon.

I'm glad that I was able to participate in the recent KOR Kickstarter, I'm sure it gave him some good vibes to spread the love of his work to new fans. Rest in peace.

Oct 13, 2020 4:12 PM by Kjeldoran109

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