On May 31st, first hearing of the trial against Erika Ikeda, known in the manga world by the pseudonym Nekokurage, at the Fukuoka District Court. The author, a resident of Minami District, Fukuoka, and responsible for the manga adaptation of the popular novel “Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries)”faces charges of violating the Income Tax Act (non-filing of returns) for tax evasion of approximately 47 million yen (about 300 thousand US dollars).

At the hearing, Ikeda, 36, admitted the charges, arguing that he intended to present his tax returns accumulated over several years. The prosecution, in its opening statement, stated that Ikeda began his career as a manga artist in 2010. and that she was informed by acquaintances about the need to file an income tax return. Despite being aware of this obligation, Ikeda prioritized the delivery times of its sleeves about your tax responsibilities.

Furthermore, the prosecution noted that Ikeda had repeated this behavior in the past, filing his tax returns several years late. HE He presented testimony from his editor, who warned him about the risks of not fulfilling his tax obligations, suggesting that this could compromise the continuity of his series. A statement from the original author of “Kusuriya no Hitorigoto” was also read, advising Ikeda to consult an accountant.

According to the indictment, between 2019 and 2021, Ikeda had an income of approximately 260 million yen as a manga artist. (over 1.65 million US dollars), but he did not declare them in time, resulting in tax evasion of about 47 million yen. Later, Ikeda paid all taxes due, including late payment interest.

Erika Ikeda, under her pen name Nekokurage, is known for her work on the manga version of “Kusuriya no Hitorigoto”. published by Square Enix. This situation has generated considerable interest in the manga community and among its followers, who hope that this situation will not affect the continuity of their work.

Source: The Mainichi Shimbun