The artist wrote in his blog:
When I started thinking about how to continue drawing in the future, I decided to leave Square Enix at the end of last year.
Itahana noted that 2025 became an important milestone: the company celebrated the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy IX.
It was a special event, and I am grateful to everyone who celebrated the FFIX anniversary and visited the exhibitions, shops, and cafes.
The artist has completed his work on illustrations and projects for the anniversary and now plans to develop as an independent illustrator and character designer.
I hope to use the experience I have gained to create new and diverse graphic works. I am currently finding my way and learning from experienced freelancers.