Shogakukan Suspends Distribution of Manga “Joujin Kamen” Over Author Vetting Failures, Issues Official Apology

Shogakukan has suspended distribution of the manga Joujin Kamen (JP: 常人仮面) following issues related to the appointment and vetting of its original author. The editorial department of the manga app Manga ONE announced on the 27th that it has halted digital distribution of the series and stopped shipments of its collected volumes. An official statement explaining the circumstances and offering an apology was posted on the company website.

According to the statement titled “Explanation and Apology Regarding the Suspension of Joujin Kamen,” the editorial team acknowledged that there were problems in its decision to appoint the original author and in its internal confirmation process. As a result, distribution of Joujin Kamen has been suspended and shipments of the tankobon volumes have been halted. The statement further revealed that Ichiro Hajime, credited as the original creator of Joujin Kamen, is the same individual as Shoichi Yamamoto, the author of Daten Sakusen (JP: 堕天作戦).

Background of the Suspension and Editorial Response

The editorial department explained that in 2020, following the arrest, summary indictment, and fine imposed on Yamamoto, serialization of Daten Sakusen was discontinued. However, in 2022, Manga ONE began a new serialization titled Joujin Kamen based on an original work credited to Ichiro Hajime. The statement admitted that the individual should not have been appointed as the original author. It also offered a direct apology to the victim, stating that the editorial team takes its responsibility very seriously.

The statement continued with an apology to readers, to Eri Tsuruyoshi, the illustrator of Joujin Kamen, to contributing creators, and to all related parties for the concern and inconvenience caused. The message concluded with a formal apology from the Manga ONE editorial department.

The announcement also addressed involvement in a civil lawsuit between Yamamoto and the victim. It stated that although the editorial department had no intention of organizational involvement in settlement negotiations referenced in the civil proceedings, an editor joined a group chat on a messaging application at the request of both parties. The department explained that certain settlement conditions had already been discussed prior to the editor’s participation, and that the editor advised the parties to appoint legal counsel and formalize the agreement through a notarized document. The statement acknowledged that the editorial department’s understanding of the seriousness of the matter and its grasp of relevant information were insufficient, describing its response as inappropriate. It concluded with another apology and a pledge to implement measures to prevent recurrence.

Trouble Background

Ichiro Hajime previously worked on Manga ONE under the name Shoichi Yamamoto as the original author of the manga Daten Sakusen. In February 2020, Yamamoto was arrested, summarily indicted, and fined, leading to the suspension of Daten Sakusen.

In March 2020, Daten Sakusen, which had been paused due to the criminal complaint and arrest, resumed publication. The victim demanded that the serialization be halted. In July 2022, the victim filed a civil lawsuit against Yamamoto. In October 2022, Daten Sakusen ended its run on Manga ONE. On February 20, 2026, the civil trial concluded with a ruling ordering Yamamoto to pay 11 million yen in damages.

Following news of the verdict, posts on X drew attention to a lawsuit concerning alleged sexual misconduct, claiming that a male teacher at a private high school in Hokkaido had sexually assaulted a female student at the time. The defendant in that case was identified as Shoichi Yamamoto, sparking controversy. Around the same time as these allegations circulated, multiple posts appeared on social media asserting that digital distribution of the manga and shipments of its volumes had been suspended.

Details of the Case

In the civil lawsuit, the woman alleged that she had been subjected to grooming by the former teacher for sexual purposes. The court recognized this claim in its ruling. The details of the case were described as extremely serious, and this article does not provide further specifics.

According to the judgment, the woman began suffering sexual abuse from the male teacher when she was in her first year of high school, and the abuse continued even after her graduation. She later developed post traumatic stress disorder and was unable to continue attending the university she had enrolled in, ultimately being expelled.

The court found that the former teacher took advantage of the woman’s low self esteem and established a position of dominance, compelling her to comply with sexual demands. It concluded that he engaged in sexual acts against her will and determined that the conduct was unlawful.

Source : ORICON NEWS