When manga-related tax evasion cases arise in Japan, mangakas may face severe consequences such as the potential shutdown of their manga and cancellation of any associated anime.
There has been a recent development in the high-profile case surrounding Erika Ikeda, the mangaka behind Apothecary Diaries. Fans are expressing their concern regarding the future of the manga and the possibility of a second season for the anime.
Erika Ikeda, the manga artist behind The Apothecary Diaries and who goes by the pen name Nekokurage, faced allegations of tax evasion for failing to report her income of approximately 47 million yen over a span of several years.
On May 31, 2024, she was convicted of income tax evasion at her initial trial in the Fukuoka District Court.
Presiding Judge Yuko Takeda oversaw the proceedings in which Defendant Ikeda acknowledged the charges against her and stated that,
“I was planning to file a consolidated tax return for several years”
The prosecution highlighted in their opening statement that Ikeda began her career as a manga artist in 2010 and was fully aware of the requirement to file a tax return. However, she chose to prioritize meeting the manga’s deadline instead of fulfilling her tax obligations.
The prosecution emphasized that Ikeda had a pattern of submitting her tax returns late, often filing several years’ worth at once.
Based on the indictment and other documents, it can be seen that the accused, Ikeda, made a total of 260 million yen in income as a manga artist between 2019 and 2021.
Despite allegations that she evaded around 47 million yen in income taxes by missing the filing deadline, she ultimately paid the full amount, including the late taxes.
The editor in charge warned her that if she caused any issues, the series would be discontinued. The original author also suggested that she file her tax return and seek advice from a tax accountant.
Nevertheless, the future of the Apothecary Diaries remains uncertain, and the judge could potentially harm the success of the series if the situation deteriorates.
The article was sourced from livedoor NEWS and can be found at https://news.livedoor.com/article/image_detail/26514712/?img_id=42094752.
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