Recently the fourth anniversary of the abrupt cancellation of “Act-Age”manga that promised to become one of the biggest hits of Weekly Shonen Jump. The series was canceled in August 2020 following the arrest of screenwriter Tatsuya Matsuki, who was accused of inappropriately approaching and touching two high school students. Matsuki was eventually sentenced to 18 months in prison, a sentence that was suspended for three years, but the impact of his actions resulted in the immediate end of his career and the disappearance of a manga that was at the height of its popularity.

“Act-Age” caught the attention of many for its fresh take and narrative about life in the entertainment industry. However, the manga's cancellation was a devastating blow to both fans and those involved in its production. The series was left incomplete and Matsuki's promising career ended in disgrace.

This anniversary served to remind fans of another scandal in the manga industry, related to Nobuhiro Watsukiauthor of “Rurouni Kenshin“. In 2017, Watsuki was arrested after being found in possession of child pornography, with several DVDs stored in his office and home. Although Watsuki admitted his guilt, he did not serve any prison time and was fined only 200,000 yen (about US$1,300). After a brief six-month suspension, the author resumed work on the franchise without major repercussions.

Although “Act-Age” was immediately canceled, “Rurouni Kenshin” continued to thrive. Despite the scandal, publisher Shueisha continued to support Watsuki. launching new projects related to the franchise, such as musical adaptations, live-action films and a complete remake of the anime that began airing in 2023. This attitude contrasts sharply with the decision to remove “Act-Age” from the Weekly Shonen Jump catalog, showing that the author's prestige and the manga's popularity can influence how the consequences of their actions are handled.

What is even more controversial for fans is the support Nobuhiro Watsuki received from several well-known manga authors even after his crimes were revealed. Figures such as Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto), Hideaki Sorachi (Gintama), Takeshi Obata (Death Note) and even Eiichiro Oda (One Piece), expressed their support for the author. This type of support was not seen in the case of Tatsuya Matsuki, who was quickly ostracized without any defense from his colleagues.

The public response has also been divided. While in Japan “Rurouni Kenshin” continues to be a hit, in other parts of the world the reaction has been very different. Some fans have chosen to separate the work from the author, enjoying the series without personally supporting Watsuki. However, others have decided to boycott the franchise entirely, demanding that stricter measures be taken against the author.

This anniversary not only commemorates the tragic end of “Act-Age,” but also reopens the debate about how the manga industry deals with the crimes committed by its creators. The disparity in treatment between Matsuki and Watsuki continues to be a topic of discussion among fansquestioning whether commercial success should come before morals and ethics in the industry.

Source: The Escapist Magazine