Manga artist Shikako, known for providing the artwork for the manga series Manchuria Opium Squad, has passed away at the age of 37 due to choroidal malignant melanoma. The announcement was made on November 22 by the editorial department of Weekly Young Magazine.

Shikako served as the artist for Manchuria Opium Squad, which is written by Tsukasa Monma. She passed away on November 8 after a prolonged battle with illness. Prior to her passing, she had been undergoing treatment while continuing her work on the series.

Illness and Final Message From the Editorial Department

Shikako had previously disclosed her medical condition. On October 27, she explained the situation regarding the series, stating that metastasis to other organs had been confirmed at the end of last year. While she had managed to balance treatment and serialization until then, she decided to shift the series to an irregular release schedule in order to focus fully on treatment.

Following her passing, the editorial department released an official statement:
“Shikako sensei, the manga artist responsible for Manchuria Opium Squad, passed away on November 8, 2025, due to choroidal malignant melanoma. She was 37 years old. We would like to express our deepest gratitude and respect for her remarkable achievements, and we sincerely pray for her peaceful rest.”

Future of Manchuria Opium Squad

Regarding the continuation of the series, the editorial department revealed that Shikako had expressed her wishes while still alive.

“She told us, ‘If anything happens to me, I want you to appoint another artist to complete the story.’ While a successor has not yet been decided, we are determined as an editorial team to carry on Shikako sensei’s wishes and guide Manchuria Opium Squad to its conclusion.”

Further announcements will be made through Weekly Young Magazine and the official X account of the series.

About the Series

Manchuria Opium Squad is set in 1937 and opens with the striking line: “The lightest thing in Manchuria is a human life.”

The story follows Isamu Hikata, who arrives in Manchuria as a soldier in the Kwantung Army. After losing the sight in his right eye on the battlefield, he is deemed an “unusable soldier” and reassigned to an agricultural volunteer unit tasked with producing food for the military. There, he endures daily abuse from his superiors.

One day, Hikata discovers poppies, the raw material for opium, being cultivated in a corner of the farm. In a desperate attempt to save his ailing mother, he becomes involved in the illegal production of opium. That decision ultimately derails both his own fate and the destiny of Manchuria itself.

The series began serialization on Comic DAYS by Kodansha in April 2020. In September 2021, it transferred to Weekly Young Magazine, where serialization resumed.

Full Statement From the Editorial Department

At 10:38 a.m.(JST) on November 8, 2025, manga artist Shikako sensei passed away due to choroidal malignant melanoma. She was 37 years old.

Together with original author Tsukasa Monma, Shikako sensei began serializing Manchuria Opium Squad on Comic DAYS in April 2020. In September 2021, the series moved to Weekly Young Magazine. Through her outstanding artistic skill and meticulous attention to detail, she delivered an exceptional work to readers.

The entire editorial staff sincerely prays for Shikako sensei’s peaceful rest and extends our deepest condolences to her bereaved family. The funeral was held privately with close associates only.

As previously stated, Shikako sensei entrusted us with the wish that, should anything happen to her, another artist be appointed to complete the story. While a successor has not yet been determined, we are committed to honoring her wishes and bringing Manchuria Opium Squad to its conclusion.

Future updates will be announced in Weekly Young Magazine and on the official X account of the series. We would like to express our profound gratitude to all readers who have supported the work and respectfully report her passing.

Comment From Original Author Tsukasa Monma

“The thought that I will never again see the world drawn by Shikako sensei is a sadness that never leaves my mind.

The pain of losing a precious partner with whom I exchanged storyboards and manuscripts every week is beyond words. Shikako sensei and I were close in age and walked similar difficult paths as creators, which is why we trusted each other deeply as we worked on the series. I feel that Manchuria Opium Squad is truly Shikako sensei’s work, and I am endlessly grateful.

When I last saw her, despite her severe condition, she was still thinking about the future of the series and worrying about it. I wanted to continue creating many works together for our entire lives. I wanted to see more of the characters and worlds she drew. Thinking of that leaves me with deep regret.

I spent some time in a daze after her passing, but now I am firmly resolved to complete Manchuria Opium Squad at all costs. I believe that doing so is the greatest tribute to Shikako sensei, and that she would be pleased from heaven.

Shikako sensei, thank you so much for meeting me and for creating Manchuria Opium Squad. I will continue walking forward, never forgetting the strong bond we shared through our work.”

Comment From the Series Editor

She was a truly great artist whom I respected from the bottom of my heart.

I first met Shikako sensei in December 2019. I still vividly remember the atmosphere of that day at a café in Shinjuku, nervously discussing the original draft of Manchuria Opium Squad.

Over the next six years, I had the privilege of accompanying her as the editor in charge, sharing countless joys. Before serialization began, she repeatedly refined the character designs until they became something truly special. In chapter two, she boldly changed the composition from the storyboard for the double page spread, delivering a stunning scene that shocked readers. When volume one went into reprint shortly after release, we celebrated together over the phone.

We talked about our families from time to time. When the series moved to Weekly Young Magazine, she drew a wonderful commemorative illustration. When volume nine surpassed one million copies in circulation, we celebrated with steak together as the Manchuria team. She once described drawing manga as her “calling” in an interview. And when total circulation reached three million copies and the series became a major hit, every moment was irreplaceable.

Shikako sensei also had a playful side. Once, she jokingly told me that she had drawn editors Shiraki and Mori into the manuscript as opium addicts. That sense of humor is something I will never forget.

No matter how successful the series became, she remained cheerful and kind, casually chatting about music and comedy. I fondly remember her slightly exasperated laugh when I asked which promotional catchphrases from past editors had left an impression on her.

She was deeply considerate of her assistants, setting aside time each week to go out together and even purchasing a mahjong table for staff who wanted to play. Everyone knew how caring she was.

Even after her illness was discovered, she said, “I feel better when I am drawing,” and continued facing her work while taking breaks as needed. Her manuscripts conveyed such vivid realism that one could almost feel the scent and humidity of the land itself. Every character felt alive, even background characters, and her overwhelming sense of realism moved me time and again.

I cannot yet accept a world without Shikako sensei. Every time I see the title Manchuria Opium Squad or her artwork, I will remember her. I am filled with deep sorrow at the far too early departure of such a great artist.

Thank you for drawing Manchuria Opium Squad to the very end, and for allowing me to walk alongside you for six years. I offer my deepest gratitude. Please rest in peace. Shikako sensei, thank you so very much.

Source : ORICON NEWS