Future Manga artists die before publishing their debut

SUMMARY

Denji Yutai won the Dengeki Grand Prize but tragically died before his first manga was published.
Yutai's work, titled Fairy Physics, will still be published after consultation with his family.
Yutai's fellow artist and friend Toshimichi Uzuo shared how Yutai guided his own writing career.

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- An old friend spoke

A new budding mangaka died last week before they were due to be released next year. The name of the new artist is Denji Yutai, which is currently the only name shared. He is the winner of the Dengeki Grand Prize, a manga prize, in the fall of 2024. Now, he will not have the chance to see his work officially published.

The news came via the X (formerly Twitter) account of Dengeki Bunko, the organization behind the award. They sent the announcement on December 27, 2024, saying that this year's awardee had passed away. In the statement, Dengeki Bunko said that they will continue to publish Yutai's works out of respect for his death, and follow what is known about his wishes.

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The Single Work of Denji Yutai

An award-winning debut

The Dengeki Grand Prize, or Dengeki Novel Award, is an award given to long and short stories sponsored by the manga giant KADOKAWA. The award has been in existence since 1994, and the 31st pen name is Denji Yutai (which translates as “Electromagnetic Ghost”). 3,819 works were submitted for the 2024 award, and the Yutai's work, titled 『妖精の经经学―Phenomenon PHysics PHantom―』(Fairy Physics: PHomena PHantom) is the winner.

So the world of manga looked to Yutai, who was scheduled to start publishing his works officially in 2025. Sadly, the new artist died on December 12, 2024, due to a previously unknown illness. Fairy Physics: PHomena PHantom was intended to be published as part of winning the Dengeki Grand Prize, and still after consultation with the Yutai family, who gave permission to publish the work as planned.

Regarding Yutai's sudden death, Dengeki Bunko released (according to Livedoor News, translated in Japanese),

Denji Yutai passed away suddenly due to illness last Thursday, December 12, 2024.

All of us involved in the Dengeki Grand Prize and the publishing department of Dengeki Media Works are shocked and deeply saddened by this sudden news. We are deeply saddened by his untimely death.

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Inspiration for others

An old friend spoke

Other manga and manga artists started posting about the tragedy of Yutai's death before seeing his work published. Among them was former Dengeki Grand Prize winner Toshimichi Uzuo, who went on to write many other novels. Uzuo sends a message that they are friends with Yutai, and although they don't share details about who they work with, they have been friends for a long time.

Uzou also shared that Yutai wanted to be a light comic writer for years, even before Uzuo started writing anything. Only when Yutai convinces Uzuo to try writing does Uzuo try. Inspired by Yutai, Uzuo submits his first work for the Dengeki Grand Prize, and luckily manages to win even though it's their first attempt. According to Livedoor News, Uzuo said of Yutai's suggestion to start writing, (translated in Japanese), “Looking back now, it was a turning point in my life. “

The two became more distant in later years, but Uzuo said they never denied that they were friends in their youth. After Yutai passes away, Uzuo talks more about him and their relationship, revealing that they felt Yutai was the more talented writer. They also said that if they continue to work and have a light novel writer, they will continue to remind everyone of what Denji Yutai was able to contribute in his short time as a writer. , and he won't let the world forget. Yutai's achievements before his death.