Shogakukan Establishes Third-Party Committee Over Manga ONE Controversy, Says “An Objective and Fair Investigation Is Necessary” [Full Statement]

On the 19th, Shogakukan updated its official website and announced that it had resolved to establish a third-party committee in response to issues surrounding the appointment of Shoichi Yamamoto, the original author of the manga Jojin Kamen, which had been serialized on the manga app Manga ONE.

Regarding the controversy, Manga ONE released a statement on February 27 addressing the issue of appointing the original author of Jojin Kamen (story by Ichiro Ichiro, art by Eri Tsuruyoshi). In a statement titled “Explanation and Apology Regarding the Suspension of Jojin Kamen,” the site reported:

“Due to issues in the decision-making process and verification system regarding the appointment of the original author, we have suspended distribution of Jojin Kamen and halted shipment of its collected volumes. The original author, Ichiro Ichiro, is the same individual as Shoichi Yamamoto, the author of Daten Sakusen.”

The reason for suspending distribution of the manga and halting shipments of its volumes was explained as follows:

“In 2020, following Yamamoto’s arrest and summary indictment, which resulted in a fine, we suspended the serialization of Daten Sakusen. However, in 2022, the Manga ONE editorial department launched a new serialization, Jojin Kamen, with Yamamoto under a different pen name, Ichiro Ichiro. This was a decision that should not have been made. Above all, we sincerely apologize to the victim. The editorial department takes this responsibility very seriously.”

The statement also apologized, saying:

“We deeply apologize for the significant concern and inconvenience caused to our readers, to Eri Tsuruyoshi, the artist of Jojin Kamen, to all contributing creators, and to all related parties.”

■ Full Statement

We hereby announce that at an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Directors held on March 19, 2026, our company resolved to establish a third-party committee as outlined below.

1. Purpose of Establishing the Third-Party Committee

As previously announced on February 28, 2026, it has come to light that, despite the fact that the author of Daten Sakusen was arrested and summarily indicted for violating the Act on Punishment of Activities Relating to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (production), and that the serialization was suspended following the imposition of a fine, the Manga ONE editorial department subsequently allowed the same individual to resume work under a different pen name as the original author of a new serialization, Jojin Kamen (hereinafter referred to as “this matter”).

We take this matter extremely seriously and have determined that an investigation ensuring objectivity and fairness is necessary. Accordingly, we have decided to establish a third-party committee.

2. Scope of Investigation Delegated to the Third-Party Committee

(1) Clarification of the facts related to this matter

(2) Verification of whether there are any similar problematic incidents involving our executives or employees
(including, but not limited to, the misconduct by one of our employees toward an employee of a business partner in 2018, as announced on March 11 of this year)

(3) Analysis of the causes of this matter and recommendations for preventing recurrence

(4) Investigation of any other matters deemed necessary by the third-party committee

3. Composition of the Third-Party Committee

Chair: Toshihiko Itami
(Attorney, WIN Law Office; Former Chief Prosecutor of the Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office)

Members: Ayumi Fukuhara
(Attorney, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu)

Seisuke Hen
(Attorney, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu)

4. Future Actions

Our company will fully cooperate with the investigation conducted by the third-party committee.

Furthermore, regarding the facts clarified through the committee’s investigation, we plan to disclose them within a scope that does not infringe upon the privacy rights of those involved, and to implement necessary measures based on the findings.


Shogakukan

Shogakukan Official

Source : ORICON NEWS