Shogakukan publicly announced on November 11 that an incident involving a former employee who solicited sexual acts from a business partner in 2018 had come to light. The company admitted that the employee had exploited their advantageous position within the business relationship to demand sexual favors and had continued to make inappropriate communications subsequently. This revelation aligns with recent reports regarding the company's employment of a manga artist linked to sexual assault incidents under another name on their manga distribution app, Manga One, which has also been referred to a third-party committee for investigation.

The announcement follows a report by 'Shukan Bunshun' on December 12, which prompted Shogakukan to issue a statement on their official website. While the specifics of the incidents were not disclosed due to confidentiality obligations, it was revealed that in 2020 the former employee faced criminal charges from the victim, which alerted the company to the situation. Shogakukan expressed profound regrets, issuing apologies to the victim and all relevant parties. The employee was initially not prosecuted, but internal investigations led to disciplinary actions based on expert opinions and subsequent revelations in 2025 of further inappropriate behavior by the same employee, who ultimately acknowledged responsibility and resigned.

Shogakukan emphasized that the entire series of incidents highlights a significant deficiency in respecting women's dignity and human rights, stating that they take such considerations very seriously and are aware of the organization's responsibility in these matters. This situation reflects broader issues of workplace culture and the need for greater accountability within organizations when it comes to misconduct and the treatment of individuals in professional relationships.