THE Mangaka Nekokuragerecognized for her work on the manga adaptation of the popular light novel The Apothecary's Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) was involved in a scandal that shook the manga world. After being found guilty of tax evasion, the artist issued a public apology through her social networks, expressing her deep regret for her actions, in an apology that comes after the artist faced accusations of tax evasion and the great controversy it caused among her fans. .
The Apothecary Diaries mangaka Nekokurage apologizes to fans
In a recent publication in Twitter/X Erika Ikedathe artist behind the manga adaptation of The Apothecary's Diaries and who uses the pseudonym Nekokurage expressed regret for the tax problems she caused. The public apology came after the controversy she generated months ago, where she was investigated and it was determined that she had evaded taxes worth approximately 47 million yen (300 thousand USD) between 2019 and 2021.
During this period, Nekokurage reported significant income of approximately 260 million yen (US$1.65 million), but failed to complete the corresponding tax returns on time. Investigations revealed that he had accumulated a considerable tax debt due to delays in filing his returns, which led to a first trial hearing in Fukuoka Prefecture, where he faced charges of violating the Income Tax Law.
Although he accepted the charges, the defense argued that the evasion was not intentional, according to the mangaka The Apothecary's DiariesThe failure to pay was due to him waiting to collect all of his taxes from previous years in order to make a single payment. While this delay resulted in the accumulation of significant debt, the prosecution also noted that this is not the first incident of late tax filings in the artist's career, which has heightened scrutiny of her tax history.
In his apology message, the mangaka The Apothecary's Diaries, Nekokurageexpressed her deepest regret for any concern caused and thanked readers who continue to support her work despite the situation. She also thanked the people involved who allowed her to continue drawing and promised not to repeat such mistakes in the future. She has committed to working with a trusted accountant to regularize her tax situation and hopes to make amends and pay it forward through her art.
Despite fiscal challenges, Nekokurage She expressed her desire to continue drawing with greater dedication and care. The mangaka trusts that her followers will continue to enjoy her work and is determined to use this experience to improve both her work and her fiscal responsibilities. With the support of her readers and the help of professionals, she hopes to overcome this obstacle and continue contributing to the world of manga.
©日向夏・イマジカインフォス／「薬屋のひとりごと」製作委員会
