The Apothecary Diaries' Mangaka Apologizes for Tax Evasion
Nekokurage, the artist behind the popular manga adaptation of "The Apothecary Diaries" (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto), has broken her silence after being charged and convicted of tax evasion in April this year. In a recent update on her personal Twitter account, the author expressed her regret and assured her fans that she will resume her work on the manga, thanking the support she has received from both her readers and the publisher Square Enix.
The incident of tax evasion by Nekokurage came to light when it was discovered that he had avoided paying around 47 million yen (over $300,000) in taxes, by failing to report income of approximately 260 million yen earned through his work on the manga. The artist admitted to the charges and showed remorse, resulting in a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 3 years, along with a fine of 11 million yen.
In her statement, the author apologized to her followers and reiterated her commitment not to repeat this mistake in the future. In his post, he mentioned:
- "I deeply regret having caused so many problems related to my tax obligations. After the recent ruling, I have seriously reflected on the incident. Currently, I am receiving the support of a trusted tax accountant and I promise that something like this will not happen again."
In addition, Nekokurage thanked the fans and collaborators who have continued to support her despite the circumstances, and assured that she will continue to work on the manga with greater dedication:
- "To those who still wish to read my work, and to the people who have decided to allow me to continue drawing, I am deeply grateful. I hope I can repay them by continuing with The Apothecary Diaries and dedicating myself to creating the best work possible."
It is important to remember that Nekokurage is responsible for the manga adaptation, as the original franchise is based on a series of light novels written by Natsu Hyuuga, which have gained great popularity both in Japan and internationally. The play follows the story of Maomao, a young pharmacist who, by chance of fate, becomes a servant in the imperial palace and begins to solve mysteries related to the court.
Following the indictment, Square Enix reassured fans that they had no plans to cancel the manga, despite the guilty verdict. This allowed the author to concentrate on solving her legal problems and then to continue her work. Nekokurage, now with a trusted prosecutorial team, has vowed to focus entirely on his work and do everything he can to regain the trust of his supporters.
The author ended her statement by reaffirming that she hopes that readers will continue to accompany her in this new stage:
- "I'm going to draw this work even more carefully, and I hope that the people who have followed me so far will continue to enjoy it."
With this renewed commitment, The Apothecary Diaries seems poised to continue its success, as Nekokurage works to overcome the difficulties of the past and deliver quality work to its readers.
Source: Twitter
