Mia Ikumi, co-creator, and illustrator of theTokyo Mew Mewmanga series sadly passed away on June 01, 2025. The cause of death was announced to be a hemorrhage. She was 42 years of age.
Her passing was announced on the website of monthlyshōjomanga publication,Nakayoshimagazine. A private funeral was held for her by her family members.
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Kodansha Comics, a frequent collaborator with Ikumi, released a public statement; “Ikumi-sensei has been supervising the anime for the past two years with love and has been looking forward to presenting it to you with the new edition. We, the bereaved, will continue to treat her works with great care, and we will continue to produce them with great care while enduring our grief, so that we can carry on her legacy.”
Ikumi’s first entry into the manga world wasThe Sleeping Princess of Berry Forest, a one-shot that she wrote at 18 years old. She first showcased her artistic talent inSuper Doll Licca-chan, also published byNakayoshimagazine in 1998. This story was serialized and published later on by Kodansha Comics in two volumes.
Soon after, Ikumi teamed up with writer Reiko Yoshida to createTokyo Mew Mew, a manga centered on a group of girls with superpowers based on rare animals who fight aliens in order to keep Earth safe. The manga was published inNakayoshimagazine and ran from 2000 to 2003.Kodansha Comicsalso published this story in volumes. The success of the manga resulted in an anime of the same name that aired in 2002 and ran for 52 episodes. After its final episode, Ikumi wrote and illustratedMew Mew à la Mode, a sequel toTokyo Mew MewinNakayoshimagazine in 2004.
Tokyo Mew Mewwas not just a Japanese hit. The manga and sequel were translated into a variety of languages including English, Spanish, and German. In 2005,Mew Mew Power, the English-dubbed version of the anime premiered in the USA and was an incredible success. During its run,Mew Mew Powerwas the highest-rated show on 4Kids TV. In 2019, Ikumi and Yohsida once again added to the franchise withTokyo Mew Mew 2020 Re-Turn,which was published inNakayoshimagazine.
WhileTokyo Mew Mewis Ikumi’s signature work, she has provided illustrations to other projects. She has been featured in manga such asRepure,Koi CupidandOnly One Wish.In July 2022, a new project entitledTokyo Mew Mew Newwill be released. This anime is currently in production and a trailer is available.
