Shogakukan’s Manga ONE Reports New Author Appointment Issue and Establishes Independent Investigation Committee

Shogakukan has announced a new original author appointment issue at its manga app Manga ONE and the establishment of an independent third party investigation committee. The publisher released the statement on the 2nd, acknowledging additional concerns regarding its editorial oversight.

The company stated that it does not tolerate sexual violence, sexual exploitation, or any form of human rights violation, emphasizing that respect for human rights is the most important responsibility for a company operating as a member of society.

New Investigation Into Author Appointment Process

In its announcement, Shogakukan reiterated its apology regarding the previously disclosed issue in which the author of Daten Sakusen, who had been arrested and summarily indicted for violating the Act on Regulation and Punishment of Acts Relating to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography and received a fine, was later appointed under a different pen name as the original author of Joujin Kamen. The company once again apologized to the victim, to Eri Tsuruyoshi who handled the artwork, to creators contributing across its platforms, to readers, and to all related parties.

The publisher stated that it is currently conducting an internal investigation. During this process, it determined that there is also a need to examine the process and confirmation system surrounding the appointment of the original author for another Manga ONE series, The Counselor Through Years and Stars.

In a separate explanatory statement titled “Regarding the Appointment of the Original Author of The Counselor Through Years and Stars,” the company apologized for damaging the trust of readers and creators contributing to Manga ONE and Shogakukan. It acknowledged that its editorial department’s approach toward a victim of sexual harm had been inadequate, despite its stated commitment to human rights.

Disclosure Regarding The Counselor Through Years and Stars

Shogakukan further addressed the case of Tatsuki Matsuki, who previously wrote the original story for Act-Age serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump, and who has been writing The Counselor Through Years and Stars (JP: 星霜の心理士, Seisou no Shinrishi) for Manga ONE under the different pen name Miki Yatsunami.

The company explained that even criminal history constitutes personal information and that disclosing such information without the individual’s consent would itself constitute a serious human rights violation. However, at the request of the Manga ONE editorial department, it sought permission to publicly confirm that Miki Yatsunami and Tatsuki Matsuki are the same person. According to the statement, Matsuki consented to the disclosure in light of speculation already spreading.

With Matsuki’s consent, the company disclosed that he was arrested and indicted in August 2020 on charges of forcible indecency and later received a guilty verdict of one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years. The editorial department acknowledged that it was aware of this fact when deciding to appoint him as the original author of The Counselor Through Years and Stars.

The company stated that before making the appointment, it confirmed that the verdict had been finalized and that the suspended sentence period had expired. It also reviewed his expressions of remorse regarding the incident, efforts toward preventing recurrence, and the status of professional support for social reintegration. These factors were discussed internally before the decision was made.

Establishment of a Third Party Committee

Shogakukan announced that it has decided to establish an independent third party committee in order to clarify the facts and causes behind the series of events. The committee will review the circumstances surrounding the discontinuation of Daten Sakusen, the launch of Joujin Kamen, and the involvement of an editor in settlement discussions between the original author and the victim. It will also examine the author appointment process at Manga ONE and the editorial department’s awareness of human rights issues, identify problems, determine their causes, and provide recommendations to prevent recurrence.

Details regarding the third party committee will be announced at a later date.

In closing, Shogakukan once again apologized for causing significant concern and inconvenience. The company stated that it is taking seriously the criticism and opinions it has received. It also requested that the public refrain from defamation or actions that infringe upon the privacy of creators, employees, or related parties.

Source : ORICON NEWS