Joseph Luster
August 16, 2023 
Sad and unexpected news came out of the editorial department of Kadokawa’s Harta magazine, which announced that Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto manga author Nami Sano has passed away. Sano passed from cancer on August 5, and a funeral was held on August 7 and 8. She was 36 years old.
As announced on the Harta Twitter account, Sano was just diagnosed with cancer a month ago, and had been battling it in the hospital since. She even said to her editor, “Once I get over this, I feel I can draw a great manga.”
Sano’s last words were also shared: “This life has been a good one. I’m likely headed to a world with more freedom… See ya.”
In addition to creating the Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto manga, which previously inspired an anime adaptation, Sano is known for creating the Migi & Dali manga, which has an anime on the way this October. According to the editorial department, Sano was overseeing that adaptation and was “very pleased with the quality of the animation.” She was also working on a new series prior to her diagnosis.
We can continue to celebrate Sano’s work when the Migi & Dali anime premieres and beyond. She will be missed, and our thoughts go out to her friends, family and colleagues.
Via Crunchyroll News
