The Apothecary Diaries manga illustrator Nekokurage confirmed that she will continue to work on the series.
This was revealed in a statement released on her official X account on Sep 9, 2024, following the recent court ruling concerning her tax evasion case.
In the statement, Nekokurage acknowledged the gravity of her tax issues and announced that she is now receiving guidance from a trusted tax accountant.
She also expressed deep regret for the situation and pledged to avoid such issues.
“I sincerely apologize for the trouble caused regarding my tax matters. I deeply regret the verdict I received in court recently, and I am now receiving support from a trusted tax accountant. I pledge that I will never let something like this happen again.”
The illustrator confirmed that she will continue to work on The Apothecary Diariesexpressing gratitude to both her readers and the parties involved in the decision to allow her to keep creating.
“Additionally, I am grateful to the readers who have expressed their desire to continue reading my work even under these circumstances, and to the parties involved who have made the decision to allow me to keep creating. Moving forward, I hope to atone for my mistakes and repay everyone through my continued work.
I intend to approach my creations with even more care, and I would be grateful if people continue to view my work in the future.“
Square Enix had previously confirmed that they have no plans to cancel the serialization of The Apothecary Diaries manga, following the artist’s conviction.
Nekokurage was found guilty of failing to report approximately 260 million yen in income from 2019 to 2021, resulting in the evasion of approximately 47 million yen in income tax. The artist failed to file tax returns by the deadline, leading to the tax evasion charges.
The Fukuoka District Court sentenced the artist to 10 months in prison, with a three-year suspended sentence, and imposed a fine of 11 million yen.
This means the artist won’t go to jail if she stays out of trouble for three years.
Judge Takeda pointed out that Nekokurage’s manga gained sudden popularity, leading to significant income, but she prioritized her immediate work and personal life over fulfilling her tax obligations.
Although the artist had paid the full amount, including any applicable late fees, she had a pattern of filing her tax returns late, combining several years’ worth into single submissions.
She had continued this despite her editor and the original author of The Apothecary Diaries had urged her to address her tax responsibilities.
The Apothecary Diaries manga adaptation by Itsuki Nanao and illustrated by Nekokurage began in the 2017 6th issue of Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan, released on May 25, 2017. Square Enix has compiled its chapters into individual tankobon volumes.
The first volume was published on September 25, 2017. As of March 25, 2024, 13 volumes have been published.
Source: X
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