Manga artist Shin’ichi Abe has died at the age of 76. His son, musician Kōsei Abe, announced that the creator passed away on September 4, 2026, from submandibular gland cancer, with a private funeral held for family members.
Abe began his manga career in 1970 with Yasashii Hito and became associated with Japan’s alternative manga scene, particularly through his work for Garo. His best-known English-language work, That Miyoko Asagaya Feeling, drew heavily from his personal experiences and was later adapted into a live-action film in 2009.
Abe’s autobiographical stories explored relationships, art, personal struggles and everyday life rather than following conventional commercial manga formulas. That Miyoko Asagaya Feeling collected stories originally published during the 1970s and was later translated into English by Ryan Holmberg, helping introduce Abe’s work to a wider international readership.
The collection was nominated for the 2020 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award in the Best Archival Collection/Project category, placing Abe’s work alongside major international comics releases.
Abe continued producing manga and other writing throughout his career, with his work becoming increasingly recognized as an important part of Japan’s alternative comics history. His passing marks the loss of a distinctive creator whose deeply personal approach helped expand the possibilities of autobiographical manga.
