Kodansha announced that Satomi U will take maternity leave from mid-July to mid-October, during which her ongoing manga Heisei Haizan-hei ☆ Sumire-chan will pause serialization. The news came via the 34th issue of Weekly Young Magazine this week.

The comedy series follows Sumire, a 31-year-old failed idol who takes her high school cousin's advice to release a gravure photobook as a way to get revenge on the entertainment industry. Since launching in January 2024, the manga has built enough momentum to reach 10 compiled volumes, with the most recent released on May 20.

The timing of the hiatus comes shortly after Kodansha nominated Heisei Haizan-hei ☆ Sumire-chan for its 50th annual Manga Awards in the Best General Manga category back in May. The nomination suggests the series has resonated with readers and industry recognition alike.

This isn't Satomi U's first serialized work. The artist previously wrote Beauty and the Feast (Yakumo-san wa Eduke ga Shitai), which ran in Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine from March 2016 until its conclusion in 2021. That series received an English release, with the final volume shipped by Square Enix Manga & Books in November 2023.

Maternity leaves among manga creators remain relatively common in Japan's industry, though serialization schedules don't always accommodate them smoothly. With Sumire-chan securing an official pause rather than going dark, readers can expect the series to resume in October. For fans looking to catch up, all 10 volumes are currently available through Kodansha.