Erika Ikeda, a manga artist from Minami Ward, Fukuoka City, who prioritized her work over filing tax returns, faced her first trial on May 31st at the Fukuoka District Court.
Ikeda, who works under the pen name “Neko Kurage,” was charged with simple non-declaration under the Income Tax Law for failing to declare an income of approximately 47 million yen ($340,000 USD) between 2019 and 2021.
The artist, known for her work on the popular manga adaptation of the novel “The Apothecary Diaries,” admitted to the charges and stated that she had intended to file tax returns for several years’ worth of income at once.
During the trial, presided over by Judge Yuko Takeda, the prosecution revealed that Ikeda had been working as a manga artist since 2010 and was informed about the necessity of filing tax returns by an acquaintance. Despite being aware of her obligations, Ikeda repeatedly prioritized meeting manga deadlines over filing her taxes on time.
The prosecution presented statements from Ikeda’s editor, who warned that serialization could be terminated if problems arose and advised her to file tax returns. Additionally, the original author of “The Apothecary Diaries” suggested that Ikeda consult a tax accountant to ensure compliance with tax laws.
According to the indictment, Ikeda earned approximately 260 million yen ($1.9 million USD) as a manga artist between 2019 and 2021. However, she failed to declare this income on time, resulting in an income tax evasion of about 47 million yen. Since the charges were brought against her, Ikeda has paid the full amount owed, including late fees.
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“The Apothecary Diaries” is a Japanese light novel series written by Natsu Hyuuga and illustrated by Touko Shino. The series began publication in 2011 under Shueisha’s “Kobunsha Bunko” imprint and has since released 15 volumes as of May 2024. The light novel’s popularity led to a manga adaptation, with art by Nekokurage (Erika Ikeda), which began serialization in Shueisha’s “Melody” magazine in 2017.
The series got an anime adaptation which was released in October 2023 and ran for 24 episodes. The light novel series is also set to get a second season which is scheduled to release in 2025.
Set in the early 8th century during the Tang Dynasty, “The Apothecary Diaries” follows the story of Maomao, a young woman with exceptional knowledge of herbs and medicine. After being kidnapped and sold into servitude at the imperial palace, Maomao becomes the attendant of the empress’s favorite consort, the beautiful but cruel Jinshi.
As Maomao navigates the treacherous political landscape of the palace, she finds herself embroiled in a series of mysterious poisonings and conspiracies.
Source: Livedoor News
