Shogakukan Apologizes for Publishing Manga by Convicted Creator

Content warning: this article contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse and rape.

Shogakukan and its Manga ONE platform are at the center of a major controversy after it was revealed that a manga creator previously convicted of a sex crime was permitted to publish under a pen name. The publisher has halted distribution of the work, apologized, and announced an investigation — but the fallout has already prompted creator withdrawals and broad industry discussion about editorial responsibility and victim-centered accountability.

What happened: a concise summary

Shogakukan's Manga ONE editorial department acknowledged that a manga creator who was arrested and convicted in 2020 later published a new series on Manga ONE under the pen name "Hajime Ichiro." The creator — previously responsible for the series Daten Sakusen — had that earlier serialization canceled in 2020 after the criminal case. Despite that, Manga ONE serialized Jōjin Kamen in 2022 listing "Hajime Ichiro" as original writer alongside artist Eri Tsuruyoshi.

After news reports connected "Hajime Ichiro" to the convicted creator, Shogakukan halted digital distribution of Jōjin Kamen and stopped shipments of physical volumes. The publisher publicly apologized to readers, the artist, other contributing creators, and all affected parties, and said it should not have employed the pen name without sufficient vetting.

Timeline of key events

2020 — Criminal case and cancellation

In 2020 the creator was arrested and later convicted by a summary court under the Child Prostitution and Pornography Prohibition Act; the creator was ordered to pay a penalty. Manga ONE canceled the creator’s ongoing serialization at that time.

2022 — New pen name serialization begins

In 2022 a new manga, Jōjin Kamen, launched on Manga ONE with writer credited as "Hajime Ichiro" and art by Eri Tsuruyoshi. The series continued into 2023 with print volumes released.

Late 2022–2023 — Transfers and self-publishing

Following earlier disruption, the creator self-published continued installments of Daten Sakusen digitally on platforms such as Kindle starting in December 2022; digital volumes continued to appear through 2023.

February 2026 — Civil ruling and publisher response

In February 2026 reports surfaced that a Sapporo District Court ordered the creator to pay damages (reported at 11 million yen) to a woman who alleged repeated sexual abuse and rape beginning when she was a minor and the creator was her teacher. After media coverage, Shogakukan confirmed the connection between the pen name and the convicted creator, halted circulation of the implicated manga, issued an apology, and announced an investigative committee including external lawyers. The publisher also acknowledged inappropriate staff involvement in related settlement discussions and pledged measures to prevent recurrence.

Details of the civil case (reported allegations)

According to reporting summarized in the public record, the civil lawsuit alleged a pattern of sexual abuse beginning when the victim was underage and the defendant was a teacher. Claims included non-consensual sexual acts, coerced humiliating behavior, and photographing the victim under duress. The court coverage indicated the plaintiff was later diagnosed with severe PTSD and dissociative identity disorder related to the abuse. The civil ruling ordered monetary damages to the victim, while earlier criminal proceedings resulted in a penal fine.

Media coverage also described settlement negotiations in which an editor associated with Manga ONE participated in a group chat and proposed settlement terms including a non-disclosure condition. Shogakukan has said the editorial department did not fully grasp the seriousness of the civil case and that the editor’s participation was inappropriate.

Creators’ and community reactions

News of the publisher’s handling of the matter prompted immediate pushback from other creators. Jōjin Kamen’s artist, Eri Tsuruyoshi, said they were not informed of the creator’s criminal history and learned about the situation through media reports. Several manga creators who publish on Manga ONE publicly announced they would remove or suspend their works from the platform in protest, and a number of authors urged readers to seek their works on other platforms or magazines.

Industry voices have demanded clearer editorial practices and more robust safeguards for contributors and readers. The public outcry reflects both moral concerns about platform decisions and practical worries about reputational fallout for creators who were unaware of the writer’s past.

What Shogakukan says it will do

Shogakukan announced it will establish an investigative committee that includes lawyers to clarify the facts, especially how the serialization began under a pen name and why editorial personnel participated in settlement-related discussions. The publisher said it will report the committee’s findings publicly, take “strict measures” where appropriate, and implement structural changes to prevent similar incidents. Shogakukan also emphasized that it “should have first and foremost considered the feelings of the victim.” Read Shogakukan’s announcement here: Shogakukan statement.

Why this matters for the manga industry

This case raises multiple institutional questions: how platforms vet creators and pen names; what internal communication and oversight exist between editorial departments and legal teams; and how publishers prioritize victims’ rights and public trust. The episode illustrates how editorial decisions — including informal participation in settlement discussions — can create additional harm and trigger widespread creator backlash.

For artists and writers, the incident is a reminder to demand transparency from publishers about collaborators and to seek contractual protections. For publishers, it demonstrates the reputational risk of failing to align editorial processes with robust ethical standards and legal safeguards.

Resources and support

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, confidential support is available. In the United States, RAINN offers a 24/7 hotline and online chat: RAINN hotline and resources. In Japan, victims can contact One-Stop Support Centers and other local services; please refer to local government resources or specialized counseling centers for assistance.

Final thoughts

The Manga ONE / Shogakukan episode is a painful reminder that editorial choices have real-world consequences. Accountability must be transparent and meaningful — not only in halting distribution after harm is revealed, but in preventing avoidable decisions in the first place. Publishers should center victims, strengthen vetting and legal oversight, and collaborate with creators to rebuild trust. Until systemic changes are enacted and publicly demonstrated, creators and readers will understandably demand higher standards of responsibility and care from platforms that serve the manga community.

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