Cells at Work! Creator Akane Shimizu Reveals Struggles During Serialization: “The Wounds Remain Deep Even Today”

Cells at Work! creator Akane Shimizu revealed on X on August 15 that she suffered from multiple illnesses while serializing the hit manga.

Cells at Work! depicts anthropomorphized cells such as red blood cells and white blood cells working inside the human body and battling pathogens. The manga ran in Monthly Shonen Sirius from 2015 to 2021.

Following the anime adaptation that premiered in July 2018, the franchise expanded through numerous spin off works including Cells That Don't Work, Cells at Work! CODE BLACK, novels, stage productions, and a live action film released in 2024.

Educational Entertainment That Reached a Wide Audience

The series also gained recognition for its educational value. Collaborations included projects with Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to promote understanding of COVID-19, as well as public awareness videos about heatstroke prevention created in partnership with Pocari Sweat.

By combining entertainment with accessible scientific knowledge, the franchise earned support from both children and adults.

Shimizu Opens Up About Mental Health Challenges

According to Shimizu, creating the blockbuster series came with significant personal hardships.

“During the serialization of Cells at Work!, multiple forms of harm overlapped, and I was diagnosed with depression and trichotillomania. Later, I was also diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),” she wrote.

She continued:
“In addition, I suffered financial abuse and sexual abuse from relatives, as well as secondary victimization from family members. I also ended up losing contact with my younger sister, who inspired me to start drawing manga in the first place. Those experiences remain deep wounds even today. As long as it does not lead to controversy, I hope to gradually share more about what happened.”

Source : ORICON NEWS