Manga artist Shin’ichi Abe, best known internationally for That Miyoko Asagaya Feeling, has died at the age of 76. His son, musician Kōsei Abe, announced that the veteran creator passed away on September 4, 2026, after battling submandibular gland cancer. His family held a private funeral attended by close relatives.
Abe leaves behind a career spanning more than five decades, beginning with his 1970 manga Yasashii Hito. He became particularly associated with Japan’s alternative manga movement during the 1970s, producing deeply personal stories that frequently drew from his own experiences and relationships.
Shin’ichi Abe Became Known for Personal Alternative Manga
Among Abe’s most recognized works is That Miyoko Asagaya Feeling, a manga that blends autobiographical elements with a portrait of relationships and life as an artist. The work was eventually published in English by Glacier Bay Books, allowing a new generation of international readers to discover Abe’s distinctive approach to manga.
The manga’s international recognition grew further when its English edition received a nomination at the 2020 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards in the Best Archival Collection/Project category. The nomination highlighted the enduring importance of Abe’s work beyond Japan’s domestic manga market.
Abe’s bibliography also included Aihasu no Kazoku and contributions to AX: Alternate Manga. His work remained closely connected to the alternative and underground side of Japanese comics, where creators could explore personal experiences and unconventional storytelling outside mainstream commercial formulas.
That Miyoko Asagaya Feeling later received a live-action adaptation in 2009, further demonstrating the lasting appeal of Abe’s stories. The manga remains his best-known work among English-language readers, particularly because of its intimate depiction of artistic life and personal relationships.
Abe’s death represents another major loss for Japan’s alternative manga community. Beginning his professional career in 1970, he spent decades developing a distinctive voice that helped document the personal and artistic experiences surrounding Japan’s alternative comics scene.
