50-year-old man charged with assaulting coworker over anime spoilers

A Japanese man has been taken into custody and accused of attacking a colleague who he believed had ruined the manga-inspired anime Oshi no Ko.

Despite it being an unpleasant experience, having a story spoiled is universally disliked. In fact, one man was so distressed by hearing spoilers for Oshi no Ko that he resorted to using violence.

According to Niche Gamer, a 50-year-old employee at the Kyoto District Legal Affairs Bureau in Japan engaged in a heated argument with a coworker over anime, resulting in an assault.

According to the reports, the government employee was engaged in a conversation in his office when his subordinate initiated a discussion about the latest updates in Oshi no Ko.

Feeling upset over having the manga’s events spoiled before their adaptation in the anime, the man shouted, “I can’t handle spoilers!”and reportedly grabbed his coworker before delivering a kick to his waist.

Screenshot of the oshi no ko — Prime Video

Manga spoilers are a serious problem.

Fortunately, the victim did not sustain any injuries, but Kyoto police ultimately arrested the man. At the same time, the Legal Affairs Bureau is carrying out its own investigation.

In a statement, they announced that they would refrain from commenting due to the ongoing investigation.

The plot of Oshi no Ko revolves around a doctor and his patient who are reborn as twins of a well-known Japanese idol. The 14th volume of the manga was released on April 18, 2024. In 2023, the first season of the anime adaptation premiered, with its second season set to air in July 2024. While a live-action movie is currently in development, the original artist is not involved in the project.

Japanese police have previously dealt with similar incidents involving anime. In the previous year, a Japanese YouTuber was taken into custody for sharing videos of Steins;Gate: My Darling’s Embrace and SpyxFamily.