Iichiro Motsuka, the manga artist behind "Onban Kikō," serialized in KADOKAWA's manga magazine "Aokishi," passed away in late May at the age of 36. The news, announced by the official "Aokishi" X (formerly Twitter) and note accounts, has left many readers shocked and saddened.
Born in Tokyo in 1990, Iichiro Motsuka debuted in April 2021 with the launch of "Aokishi," and "Onban Kikō" has been continuously serialized since its inaugural issue. The series explores the memories, emotions, and life fragments carried within vinyl records, depicting the connection between people and music in an anthology format. Three volumes of the tankōbon have been released to date.
Beyond his commercial serialization, Motsuka also compiled his pre-debut independent manga works into collections titled "Record Town: Side A" and "Record Town: Side B." These works further showcased his dedication to themes at the intersection of music and manga, enriching the world of his creations.
The "Aokishi" editorial department expressed its condolences, stating that Motsuka's "works, filled with love for music and manga," received acclaim both domestically and internationally, and thanked all readers who enjoyed his creations. The editorial department also wrote that they hope these works will continue to be cherished by those who love manga and music for a long time, believing that "the light within Mr. Motsuka's works will shine forever."