[MANGA] Kumamoto Earthquakes' Latest Victim: Yona of the Dawn goes on Indefinite Hiatus

The two earthquakes that have devastated Southern Japan have affected a lot of lives and businesses, with many still out in the streets and nowhere to go. The earthquakes also bring even more bad news to the manga world, as the popular shoujo manga, Yona of the Dawn (Akatsuki no Yona) has been forced to go on indefinite hiatus due to the quakes.

Mizuho Kusanagi, the mangaka behind Yona of the Dawn, actually lives in Kumamoto Prefecture, one of the worst-hit areas of the two earthquakes. Hence, she has to take a break from her busy schedule as a mangaka. Thankfully, the editorial department of Hana to Yume magazine, which serializes Yona of the Dawn, has confirmed that the mangaka is safe and unharmed. More details on the hiatus is expected to be announced on the magazine’s 11th issue. The manga will resume once Kusanagi has put into order her issues from the quakes.

また、草凪先生ご自身にはお怪我などございません。ご心配おかけ致しました。
「暁のヨナ」の掲載については、今後の花とゆめ本誌、ホームページ、ツイッターにてわかり次第お知らせ致します。
今後も「暁のヨナ」をどうぞよろしくお願い致します。#暁のヨナ

— 花とゆめ編集部 (@HanaYume) April 22, 2016

Previously, the mangaka explained on her twitter page that she won’t be able to meet her deadline for the magazine’s 11th issue due to the second quake, as she did not suffer much damage to the first quake. She then promised to go back as quickly as possible.

花とゆめ11号休載について。私自身、とても悔しいです。14日、1回目の地震ではまだ被害が少なく原稿作業を続けてましたが、16日、2回目の本震で状況が変わり、原稿を進められなくなりました。楽しみにして下さった方、本当に申し訳ありません。いち早く仕事に戻るべく、頑張ります！

— 草凪みずほ (@KusanagiMizuho) April 22, 2016

Most of the time, readers have looked down on mangaka for going on hiatuses, but Kusanagi has gotten much support from some of her fans, who have wished her a speedy recovery, and prayed for her safety. We also wish Kusanagi-sensei a speedy recovery from the quakes.

Source: Sponichi Annex