Illustrator of The Apothecary Diaries Manga Accused of Tax Evasion
Success in the past season and already with a second season announced for next year, the anime The Apothecary Diaries finds itself involved in a “controversy” due to the artist who draws one of the manga versions of the story.
So you don’t get confused, the original author is not being accused of anything, it’s the manga version’s illustrator who is being accused of tax evasion!
Illustrator of The Apothecary Diaries Manga Accused of Tax Evasion
Nekokurage (real name Erika Ikeda), the illustrator of the manga adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries light novels, was indicted by The Fukuoka Regional Taxation Bureau on February 29 on suspicion of not declaring approximately 260 million yen (about US$1.7 million) in income and evading about 47 million yen (about US$310,000) in taxes from 2019-2021.
一部で報道されていることにつきまして pic.twitter.com/tZKBXyIJpC
— ねこクラゲ✽薬屋⑬発売 (@nekokurage_) April 1, 2024
According to the National Tax Bureau, the tax-evaded money, which includes income earned from manga sales, was used to purchase real estate. Nekokurage responded to the allegations on Twitter, claiming that they neglected their tax returns due to ignorance. They added that they paid the taxes and fees in 2022 as a result of not declaring the income after receiving instructions from the tax office. They have also asked a tax accountant for assistance in filing proper tax returns. Nekokurage clarified that this is a personal matter that has nothing to do with The Apothecary Diaries’ original light novel series author or anyone else involved in the manga’s creation.
Nekokurage launched the manga in Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan magazine in May 2017. Square Enix published the manga’s 13th compiled book volume on March 25. Square Enix Manga publishes the series in English.
The light novel series inspired an anime that premiered on October 21 with the first three episodes and aired for two cours (quarters of a year).
via ANN
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