News Reporting

Kimagure Orange Road Creator Izumi Matsumoto’s Condition Continues to Decline


kimagure-orange-road-visual-001-20161112We wish Matsumoto-sensei the very best on the road to recovery.

Yesterday, Digital Manga Publishing reported that Kimagure Orange Road creator Izumi Matsumoto’s condition is deteriorating. He suffered a relapse of cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia (depleted cerebrospinal fluid) at the end of April. The author was bedridden for three months, and began treatment for his ailment in August.

Matsumoto sent an update to backers of the recent Kimagure Orange Road translation Kickstarter, which you can read below:

In late April 2016, I was at Shimokitazawa station on my way home from completing a lecture at a university. A man was rushing onto a train that was about to depart, and knocked me over in the process. I hit my head badly, which caused a relapse episode of a chronic condition I have been battling with for some time, known as Cerebrospinal Fluid Hypovolemia.

I spent the next three months after the incident in bed. The blue light emitted by LED screens worsen the condition, so I have been unable to use my computer or smartphone regularly, and therefore have rarely been able to check my email.

On August 29th, I checked myself into the hospital for concentrated treatment. Treating this condition will take months, and I have been unable to use my computer or smartphone during this time. I have asked my dear friend to check my messages for me while I am in treatment.

Thank you so much.

Izumi Matsumoto

Yesterday, the Digital Manga team received an update on Matsumoto’s condition:

We got an update just today, and it seems like his condition has been growing worse, and he has recently been experiencing seizures regularly. We ask that you have him in your prayers, and if you would like, you can send us a postcard with your condolences that we will deliver to him. Our CEO will be travelling to Japan in early December, so please send us your postcards to our office by December 1st.

Digital Manga is collecting Get Well Soon card submissions from fans, which they will deliver to the artist. Fans can mail cards to:

Digital Manga Inc
1487 W 178th St # 300
Gardena, CA 90248

All submissions must be in by December 1.

We wish Matsumoto-sensei all the best. Our hearts are with him, always.

Source: Kickstarter (Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the tip)

About the author

Samantha Ferreira

Samantha Ferreira is Anime Herald’s founder and editor-in-chief. A Rhode Island native, Samantha has been an anime fan since 1992, and an active member of the anime press since 2002, when she began working as a reviewer for Anime Dream. She launched Anime Herald in 2010, and continues to oversee its operations to this day. Outside of journalism, Samantha actively studies the history of the North American anime fandom and industry, with a particular focus on the 2000s anime boom and bust. She’s a huge fan of all things Sakura Wars, and maintains series fansite Combat Revue Review when she has free time available. When not in the Anime Herald Discord, Samantha can typically be found on Bluesky.

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