Shogakukan suspended the serialization of Joujin Kamen after judicial confirmation that author Ichiro Hajime sexually abused a minor for years. The decision was announced on February 26th by the Manga ONE.
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Editor accused of brokering deal
The author, whose real name is Kazuaki Kurita, also published Daten Sakusen under the pseudonym Shoichi Yamamoto. On February 20, 2026, the Japanese court ordered him to pay 11 million yen to the victim. Although the case revealed that an editor from Manga ONE had participated in a group chat on LINE between the author and the victim.
According to the Kyodo news agency, the publisher suggested formalizing a notarized agreement. The agreement stipulated 1.5 million yen if the victim did not make the case public. The proposal was rejected. Shogakukan stated that it did not fully understand the gravity of the case at the time and issued a public apology.
History worsens crisis at publishing house
Kurita had been fined in 2020 for possession of illegal material involving minors. Even so, he returned to publishing in 2022 under a new pseudonym. However, the continuation of the partnership raises questions about editorial governance and compliance in the digital manga market.
The artist Tsuruyoshi Eri, responsible for the artwork of Jojin Kamen, stated that she was unaware of the crimes. Other artists have requested a temporary suspension of their works on the platform.
What happened to Jojin Kamen?
The series has been officially suspended on Manga ONE.
Did the publisher know about the author's background?
The company admitted to flaws in its verification process and took responsibility.
This case directly impacts the digital manga market and reinforces the need for editorial transparency.
Finally, keep up with other news from the world of online anime and seasonal releases in the anime or manga.