A rather obscure name in the world of manga artistry, Tsukumizu got his start from reading extensively in his youth, before drawing Moe manga throughout his university years. He would make his debut as a fanartist; he was best known in the Touhou Project fandom for Flan Wants to Die, a one-shot doujinshi released in 2013. He later broke into the professional manga industry the following year with Girls' Last Tour, which was published by Shinchosha and serialized by Kurage Branch from February 21, 2014 to January 12, 2018, for a four-year, six-volume run. It was adapted into an anime from White Fox in the fall of 2017, to critical acclaim, but sadly, lackluster sales.
After GLT's conclusion in 2018, tkmiz went on to create his following manga, Shimeji Simulation, a four-panel comedy manga released and serialized by Comic Cune that ran from January 26, 2019 to November 27, 2023 for five volumes across 49 chapters. Time will tell if an anime will also come out of it, though interest has been expressed in one.
In the meantime, following the end of Shimeji Simulation, tkmiz is developing his next manga.
Works associated with Tsukumizu:
- Flan Wants to Die (2013): Tkmiz's debut title; a fanwork of the Touhou Project video games, about the character of Flandre Scarlet as she has reached her 695th birthday. She tries to kill herself after being bored of her immorality.
- Girls' Last Tour (21st February 2014 - 12th January 2018): In a world without very little humans left in the aftermath of a deadly apocalypse, two young girls, an avid twin-tailed bookworm and a blonde lackadaisical eater, begin to travel across what remains to survive and make it to the top. Adapted into an anime from White Fox in 2017.
- Shimeji Simulation (26th January 2019 - 27th November 2023): After spending years away from society living with her older sister and preparing to enter high school, a Hikikomori finds out she has grown mushrooms out of her hair. She later encounters a friendly girl born with an egg on her head, who quickly becomes friends with her. However, the two soon realize that their world might not be what it seems to be. Serialized by Comic Cune.
- Untitled Third Manga (TBD): Teased at the end of the final page of ''Shimeji Simulation'' in November 2023.
Check Imitation Crystal for an artist with a similar style who predates him.
Tropes associated with Tsukumizu:
- Central Theme: A common trait of his works are having themes that have bittersweet subtlety to them.
- Cerebus Syndrome: Both Girls' Last Tour and Shimeji Simulation features this trope heavily. The former exemplifies this when the Kettenkrad completely breaks for good and the latter exemplifies this after Big Sis altered reality within West Yomogi.
- Deconstruction: Tkmiz is fond of using this trope in all of his stories.
- Flan Wants to Die deconstructs the idea of immortality and the negative aspects surrounding it, including loneliness.
- Girls' Last Tour deconstructs the idea of life in a post-apocalyptic world, as well as effort and the limits it poses.
- Shimeji Simulation is a deconstruction of existential crisis, as Shijima has shown fear of disappearing and her ability of going out in her shell during Chapter 43. It also deconstructs the idea of "how far humans can play God as long as consequences be damned", which is shown when Big Sis was able to alter reality according to her whims, as in the case of her altering West Yomogi and with humanity being able to change themselves on their own accord, but not without the damage it can cause to an already Acid-Trip Dimension.
- Dramedy: His works often feature humorous moments beset by the dramatic and mournful tones.
- Foil: His original manga are well known for their duo leads comprised of a black haired girl and their cheerful blonde best friend with a contrast in personalities; Chito and Yuuri in Girls' Last Tour and Shijima and Majime in Shimeji Simulation. But both characters in their respective mangas also subject to being Contrasting Sequel Main Characters because of the way their respective characterisations, while closely similar, are portrayed differently — ex. both Yuuri and Majime are respective Anti-Nihilist Foils to Chito and Shijima; Yuuri does it to excite Chito in what is essentially a grey and bleak world, but Majime uses it to defrost Shijima's icy and distant personality; Chito and Shijima's struggle with existential crisis is also a contrast; Chito deals with the negative outcomes of her own journey, while Shijima deals with struggles after her reclusion and how it made difficult for her to befriend others before being friends with Majime — this is in spite of both works having the same black-and-blonde haired girl Foil duo lead.
- Reclusive Artist: Nothing is known about Tsukumizu's real name, as his "name" Tsukumizu is also an alias, just like his other alias tkmiz. He is rarely featured in interviews and few have actually seen him in public, mainly through events relating to his works.
- Shared Universe: The penultimate chapter of Shimeji Simulation confirms it and Girls' Last Tour take place in the same universe with the cameos of Chito and Yuuri on the train.
- Signature Style: Tkmiz is often known for his Moeblob art-style, as well as his heavy usage of the Deconstruction trope and the Iyashikei genre in his mangas. His works are also rather melancholic. At the same time, the characters he makes all have Exotic Eye Designs as they don't have irises.
- What Could Have Been: Tkmiz had wanted to see the rest of the unadapted chapters for Girls' Last Tour adapted into animation for a complete series, but the anime itself underperforming prevented such plans from happening. As of June 2023, he still has interest, but he suggests the studios aren't interested in doing so.
