On the 28th, Shogakukan publicly apologized for employing a manga artist involved in a sexual abuse incident, admitting to a lack of compliance with human rights standards. The apology was posted on their website after their division responsible for the manga distribution app 'Manga One' halted the manga serialization of the artist related to criminal charges over sexual misconduct. The company expressed remorse for failing to consider the feelings of the victims, stating, "We should have shown more regard for those who were harmed, and we sincerely apologize for not being sensitive to their emotions." Shogakukan has since initiated an investigation committee, which will include legal advisors, to examine the circumstances surrounding the artist’s hiring.

The artist in question is Shōichi Yamamoto, known for the title "Datensakusen". Yamamoto, a former teacher at a private high school in Hokkaido, was convicted in February 2020 for violating child prostitution and pornography laws after he was accused of taking inappropriate photos of a student. Following these charges, his serialization of "Datensakusen" was discontinued; however, he was later employed under the pseudonym "Ichiro Kazuya" as the writer for another series, "Joujin Kamen," which began serialization in December 2022. This hiring raised eyebrows given the serious nature of the allegations against him.

In July 2022, the victim from his past misconduct filed a civil lawsuit seeking damages, and on February 20 of this year, the Sapporo District Court ordered Yamamoto to pay 11 million yen in compensation. This court ruling further highlighted the case’s severity and the importance of corporate responsibility in hiring practices, as public and legal scrutiny mounts. Shogakukan's response indicates an awareness of the growing demands for accountability in the media and creative industries.