Shogakukan's manga app, Manga One, has recently ignited a firestorm of online criticism after it was revealed that the platform had hired a manga artist, Shoichi Yamamoto (real name: Kazuaki Kurita), who had previously been convicted of sexual assault against a high school student, to serialize a new work under a different pen name. This revelation has drawn significant backlash, with many directing their anger toward Shogakukan.
As the incident came to light, several manga artists who had works published on Manga One began to announce the suspension of their publications on the platform, causing the situation to escalate. Users have also noticed that works by prominent creators, including Rumiko Takahashi, author of "Inuyasha," and the series "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End," based on Kanehito Yamada's original story, are no longer searchable on the platform and have been completely removed.
(Previous coverage: Shogakukan Under Fire for Hiring Convicted Manga Artist Under New Name; Apology Deemed Insufficient, Accused of Cover-Up &Controversy Over Shogakukan Hiring Convicted Manga Artist Escalates; Ken Akamatsu & Japan Cartoonists Association Speak Out for Industry Improvement )
While the editorial department issued an apology on February 27 for hiring the artist, the statement failed to provide concrete measures for preventing future incidents or detail the scope of their investigation, leaving many netizens unsatisfied.
On February 28, Shogakukan issued a second, more formal apology, stating: "Sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and any form of human rights violation are absolutely unacceptable. In the case of 'Tsunin Kamen,' there were significant flaws in the system for hiring the original author and in the verification process. Therefore, distribution has been halted, and physical volume shipments have been stopped."
The company also admitted that this was a serious incident involving management and oversight responsibility, indicating a lack of awareness regarding human rights and compliance within the company. To prevent similar incidents, Shogakukan announced the formation of an investigation committee, including legal counsel, to thoroughly examine the circumstances leading to the serialization, whether editors were involved in any settlement agreements, and to clarify the facts and causes. The company pledged to release the investigation results, implement necessary disciplinary actions, and establish concrete preventive measures.
However, manga artists with ongoing series on Manga One have continued to announce their decisions to withdraw or suspend their works, stating that they cannot collaborate with the platform until the truth is fully clarified. Many previously public works are now marked as "publication suspended."
Today (March 1), foreign anime news outlet "Anime Updates" posted on its official X account, noting that works by Rumiko Takahashi, author of "Inuyasha," "Ranma 1/2," and "Urusei Yatsura," have been removed from Manga One and are no longer discoverable. Subsequently, "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End" was also pulled from the platform.
(Note: The editor also confirmed on the evening of March 1 that the aforementioned works could not be found when searched on Manga One.)
This incident continues to unfold, with Shogakukan's credibility and internal management mechanisms becoming a key focus of public attention.