On July 24, the Fukuoka District Court handed down a
ruling against mangaka Erika Ikeda , known under the pseudonym
“ Nekokurage ,” for violation of the Income Tax Law. The
artist, recognized for her work in the manga “ Kusuriya
no Hitorigoto ” , was accused of evading taxes of
approximately 47 million yen (more than 300 thousand dollars). The judge
considered that it was a serious tax evasion over several years ,
sentencing Ikeda to 10 months in prison with a suspension of execution of 3
years, in addition to a fine of 11 million yen (more than 71 thousand Dollars).
The “3-year stay of execution” means
that the prison sentence will not be carried out unless the defendant commits
another crime during this probationary period. If
Ikeda maintains appropriate behavior during these three years, the prison
sentence will be annulled.
The investigation revealed that between 2019 and
2021, Ikeda earned approximately 260 million yen in income from royalties and
manuscript payments, which were not properly reported. The judge noted
that, although the manga's sudden popularity led to a significant increase in
income, the author prioritized her work and her private life over her fiscal
responsibilities.
Despite the ruling, Square Enix, publisher of this
version of the “Kusuriya no Hitorigoto” manga, has assured that it has
no plans to stop the serialization of the manga , which began in May
2017 in the “Monthly Big Gangan” magazine. The company reaffirmed its
commitment to the series and its continuity.
“Kusuriya no Hitorigoto,” originally a
light novel series, has gained widespread popularity both in Japan and
internationally. The original work, written by
Natsu Hyuuga, follows the story of Maomao, a young pharmacist who, after being
sold as a servant to the imperial palace, uses her knowledge of medicine to
solve mysteries and conspiracies at court.
The manga adaptation, made by Nekokurage, is only
one part of the franchise. The series also had a successful anime
adaptation in October 2023 , which was well received by audiences and
critics. Currently, a second season is already in production, scheduled for
2025.
With the franchise constantly growing and expanding
into various formats, Ikeda's tax incident does not affect the
continuity of the "Kusuriya no Hitorigoto" universe ,
assuring fans that they can expect more content in the near future.
Source: LivedoorNews
