Lawyer on the issue of activities resuming under a different name for MangaOne: 'Not entirely dismissive'
After a manga artist previously involved in a sexual violence incident was employed under a pseudonym by Shogakukan's app MangaOne, the company issued an apology regarding the situation.
The MangaOne app by Shogakukan has come under scrutiny after employing a manga artist who was previously involved in a sexual violence incident but did so under a pseudonym. This situation sparked a debate on whether allowing the perpetrator to continue working in the same field under a different name contributes to secondary victimization of those affected by their past actions. Prominent attorney Sakurako Kamitani, knowledgeable on sexual violence issues, expressed concerns that the visibility of such individuals can aggravate the psychological distress experienced by victims, especially if they share social circles or industry connections.
Kamitani discussed the broader implications of the Japanese legal system, which allows offenders to reintegrate into society after serving their sentences. While there's recognition that some victims may benefit from seeing their offenders taking responsibility through societal contribution, there remains a poignant concern regarding the emotional toll this can have on those who suffered harm. Victims often harbor conflicting feelingsβsome desire acknowledgment of their suffering, yet wish for their abusers to remain out of their direct view in their day-to-day lives.
The conversation further extends to the ethical dilemmas faced by publishers and platforms like MangaOne regarding how they navigate former offenders re-entering their fields under aliases. While there is no outright rejection of rehabilitating offenders after they have completed their sentences, there's a pressing call for sensitive handling of their re-emergence in public domains, ensuring that consideration for victims' well-being is at the forefront of the discourse.