By KENRO KURODA/ Staff Writer
October 14, 2022 at 07:00 JST
Japanese publisher Shueisha Inc. announced that the 18th volume of the popular “Chibi Maruko-chan” (Little Maruko) manga series by late author Momoko Sakura will be published on Oct. 25. The release comes four years after her death.
Seven episodes contained in the volume are based on scripts written by Sakura for its animated TV series adaptation, with Botan Kohagi, her longtime assistant, providing illustrations, according to the publisher.
Sakura, who died in August 2018, had written scripts for the anime series and was preparing to create manga episodes based on them.
The latest volume will be released to “carry on Sakura’s will,” according to Sakura Production Co.
The editorial department for “Ribon,” a manga anthology for girls in which the title had been serialized, also said it wants to turn her final works into manga.
As for further volumes, Shueisha and Sakura Production said it is possible but nothing has been decided.
“Chibi Maruko-chan” is an essay-style manga set in Shimizu, Shizuoka Prefecture (present-day Shizuoka).
It portrays the day-to-day existence of Maruko, a third-grader modeled after Sakura, and her family and friends with unique personalities.
After the series started its run in “Ribon” in 1986, it was adapted into an animated show in 1990 and took Japan by storm.
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Manga cover art for one of the episodes contained in the 18th volume of “Chibi Maruko-chan” ((c) Sakura Production Co.)
