Home NEWS Square Enix Not Considering Canceling Apothecary Diaries Manga Despite Author’s Sentence

Square Enix Not Considering Canceling Apothecary Diaries Manga Despite Author’s Sentence

Manga Mastermind Nekokurage Caught in Tax Evasion Fiasco!

[Image: “Kusuriya” – a screenshot of The Apothecary Diaries manga]

In a shocking development, renowned manga creator Nekokurage (real name Erika Ikeda) has been handed a suspended sentence for tax evasion. The bad news came on Wednesday, but – and this is a big but! – Square Enix, the company that publishes Nekokurage’s smash hit manga The Apothecary Diaries, has no intention of canceling the series.

So, what happened? Nekokurage was found guilty of evading taxes on income earned from manga sales, amounting to around 260 million yen (approximately $1.6 million). This money was allegedly used to fund their real estate ventures. The Fukuoka Regional Taxation Bureau brought the charges against Nekokurage, who pleaded guilty to tax evasion in May.

During the trial, Nekokurage expressed regret, stating that they had no intention of evading taxes and were only planning to pay the owed taxes later. They also claimed to have consulted a tax accountant to rectify their finances.

The case has nothing to do with anyone else involved in the creation of The Apothecary Diaries. Nekokurage confirmed that the matter is a personal one. The manga has been a huge hit for Square Enix, with 13 volumes already published.

The Apothecary Diaries actually started as a light novel series in 2011, written by Natsu Hyūga and illustrated by Touko Shino. The novels gained popularity, and the manga adaptation followed in 2017. The story has also been adapted into an anime series, which premiered in October 2022, and is set to receive a second season in 2025.

Source: IT Media News via Yaraon!