The fallout surrounding Shogakukan’s Manga ONE app intensified on Feb 28 after ONE, best known as the creator of One Punch Man, joined a growing number of manga artists speaking out against the publisher’s handling of a sexual assault case involving a previously serialized author.
Multiple creators have since placed their series on indefinite hiatus, requested removals from the platform, or publicly criticized editorial conduct.
The controversy centers on the revelation that the original author of Jojin Kamen, published on MangaONE, was the same individual previously arrested in 2020, indicted and fined in a sexual assault case involving a minor.
Despite discontinuing his earlier series following the arrest, the editorial department later launched a new serialization under a different pen name.
This triggered immediate backlash from creators currently or formerly associated with the platform.
Posting on his official X account, ONE stated that he “cannot form a team with people who cannot clearly take a strong stance condemning sexual abuse against minors.”
“I will wait for those directly involved to disclose the circumstances,” ONE wrote, clarifying that “those directly involved” referred to the editors.
He added that it should be obvious that forming a working relationship under such conditions would be difficult. He also expressed hope that Shogakukan would support the editors if they choose to speak publicly, adding that he hoped the company’s internal environment would not prevent individuals from issuing their own apology or explanation.
Multiple Authors Halt Serialization:
Apart from ONE, other creators who have voiced their strong stance include Ryuhei Tamura, who announced he has requested the removal of his series Cosmos from Manga ONE due to the incident. The request does not mean the series is ending, as it continues serialization in Sunday GX and will remain available on other digital platforms if the removal proceeds.
Eno Sumi, creator of After God, placed her series on hold and publicly criticized editorial actions she described as shielding misconduct.
Several other creators followed suit. Chihiro Komori (Maid wa Koisuru Hachiya-kun), Sumito Owara (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken), and Konomi Wagata (Neko Hajimemashita) each announced indefinite hiatuses of their MangaONE works.
Tomoka Ise, who had serialized Penal Servitude 339 Years, published a lengthy statement expressing shock and deep disappointment.
She said that as someone who debuted around the same period and shared a similar award background, the incident felt especially jarring. Ise criticized what she described as editorial conduct that could be interpreted as concealing sexual abuse of a minor, adding that she once felt proud to serialize on Manga ONE but now feels ashamed.
Miyako Hiratsuka reported that the distribution of Sayonara Diamond on Manga ONE has been suspended. My Son Seems to Have Gone Reincarnated to Another World. Full Version author Kanemoto stated that, with illustrator Hikari Shibata’s agreement, they requested suspension of the series.
Meanwhile, Kaeru Miho confirmed that Magical Girl Dandelion has officially concluded its publication on MangaONE.
Himouto! Umaru-chan‘s creator, Sankaku Head, also halted the distribution of his ongoing manga, My Darling Devilish Daughter, on Manga ONE.
He stated that he had been observing the situation until the facts became clear but decided to halt all chapters after learning the details from Manga ONE’s post, calling the incident “absolutely unforgivable” and saying that readers would not be able to enjoy manga on the platform under the circumstances.
Meanwhile, authors Rumiko Takahashi (Ranma 1/2, Urusei Yatsura, Inuyasha), Kazuhiko Shimamoto (Skull Man, Hono no Tenkosei) and duo Tsukasa Abe and Kanehito Yamada (Frieren) have also reportedly pulled their works from the Manga One app. But it doesn’t mean they have stopped publishing entirely with Shogakukan.
Eri Tsuyoshi, illustrator of Jojin Kamen, clarified in her own statement that she had not been informed of the author’s past and learned about the incident through social media.
She said she had met the author only once and that all communication had been conducted through the assigned editor. Tsuyoshi emphasized that while fiction allows creative freedom, real-world harm is unacceptable, and she expressed hope for the victim’s recovery.
Source: Livedoor News (1, 2), Yahoo Japan, X
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