[This Week in Japan] Manga Creator Hisashi Eguchi Faces Backlash Over Tracing Scandal

Japan’s Cultural Context and Copyright in Everyday Life

In countries like the United States, fair use allows limited citation or reproduction of works for purposes such as criticism, education, or parody. However, unauthorized tracing for commercial use is prohibited everywhere.

Japan, on the other hand, has long existed within a cultural “gray zone” regarding copyright. Though somewhat different from the tracing issue, debates over copyright in doujinshi (fan-made comics) and fan art are common. Technically, most secondary creations (such as those sold at events like Comic Market )violate copyright law. Yet, many rights holders tolerate them because of a shared understanding that “fan activity helps sustain a work’s popularity.” In fact, many well-known professional creators once participated in such fan culture themselves, fostering the sentiment that “secondary creation isn’t inherently bad.” In recent years, some companies have even published official fan work guidelines, essentially saying, “As long as you follow the rules, it’s fine.”

Against this backdrop, some Japanese creators may still regard tracing as an extension of artistic reference. When Eguchi began his career in the 1970s and 1980s (an era before the internet or social media) the casual “borrowing” of photos rarely led to controversy. His outdated sense of creative norms may partly explain the backlash he now faces.

At the same time, it is not something that can be dismissed as a mere “product of its time.” The Eguchi incident highlights not only the legal dimensions of copyright and portrait rights but also how much public perception and social ethics matter in today’s world. Ultimately, it serves as a reminder that in modern society, creative freedom must coexist with respect for others’ rights and sensitivities.