Japan Cartoonists Association Issues Statement on Sexual Misconduct by Manga Artist, Calls It an Industry Wide Issue

The Japan Cartoonists Association has released a statement regarding the Joujin Kamen (JP: 常人仮面) controversy, describing the issue of sexual misconduct by a manga artist and the publisher response as a matter that affects the entire manga industry.

On the 28th, the association issued a formal statement addressing the controversy surrounding the Manga ONE serialized work Joujin Kamen, published by Shogakukan. The series was written under the name Hajime Ichiro and illustrated by Eri Tsuruyoshi.

The issue began on the 27th, when the Manga ONE editorial department announced that distribution of Joujin Kamen would be suspended and shipments of its collected volumes halted. In a statement titled Explanation and Apology Regarding the Suspension of Joujin Kamen, the editorial team explained that there had been problems with both the decision to appoint the original author and the internal confirmation system.

Following widespread media coverage of the incident, the Japan Cartoonists Association released its own statement. It noted that reports have raised concerns regarding sexual misconduct by a manga artist and the response to the matter, including the involvement of a publisher.

The association stated that although it believes the full facts have not yet been sufficiently clarified, it recognizes the case as an important issue affecting the trust placed in the industry. It emphasized that this matter concerns the entire manga community.

The statement further called on the relevant publisher to conduct a transparent investigation while giving full consideration to the dignity and safety of the victim. It also urged that the results of the investigation and measures to prevent recurrence be made public. In addition, the association expressed hope that appropriate consideration will be given to manga artists who may feel anxiety regarding future serializations and contractual arrangements.

Source : ORICON NEWS