Manga Artist Yōko Umezu Passes Away at Age [Insert Age]
©Kōta Amana, Yōko Umezu, Square Enix
Square Enix’s Monthly Shonen Gangan editorial department shared the sad news on Wednesday that manga creator Yōko Umezu passed away on July 7 due to an ischemic stroke (cerebral infarction). According to the magazine staff, a private funeral service was held exclusively with close family members in attendance.
With Umezu’s passing, the popular manga series Vermeil in Gold (Kinsō no Vermeil: Gakeppuchi Majutsushi wa Saikyō no Yakusai to Mahō Sekai o Tsukisusumu)—created alongside writer Kōta Amana—has officially concluded. Its final installment appeared in the July issue of Monthly Shonen Gangan on June 12. The editorial team noted that plans regarding the release of any remaining uncollected chapters will be shared at a later date.
Amana and Umezu originally debuted the series in Monthly Shonen Gangan back in August 2018. Square Enix released the 11th compiled volume on June 11, while both Comikey and Square Enix’s Manga UP! Global platform provide English digital serialization for international fans.
The dark fantasy romantic comedy also inspired a television anime adaptation that premiered in July 2022. During its broadcast, HIDIVE streamed the series for global audiences and later produced an English dubbed version.
Beyond Vermeil in Gold, Umezu was well-known for illustrating Minidura, a spinoff manga based on Ryohgo Narita’s acclaimed Durarara!! light novel series, which serialized in Kadokawa’s Dengeki Maoh magazine from 2013 to 2015.
Sources: Monthly Shonen Gangan X (Twitter) account, Comic Natalie
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