Manga artist Kurumada says ex-assistant stole 4.6 billion yen
September 2, 2026 at 17:45 JST
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Masami Kurumada speaks at a news conference in Tokyo’s Kasumigaseki district on Sept. 2. (Kohei Uwabo)
Manga artist Masami Kurumada, best known for such works as “Knights of the Zodiac,” said he has sued a former assistant and his relatives over the embezzlement of 4.6 billion yen ($29 million).
Kurumada, 72, said the former assistant, a man he has known for a quarter of a century, has largely admitted to the embezzlement and repaid 1.8 billion yen.
The artist said he filed the lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court on Sept. 2, seeking compensation for the remaining roughly 2.8 billion yen.
According to the lawsuit and other documents, the former assistant and others embezzled the funds from 2018 to 2024. They repeatedly transferred money from three companies that manage Kurumada’s copyrights and other royalties to other accounts and diverted licensing fees from business partners to companies linked to the assistant.
The alleged misconduct came to light in 2024 after it was pointed out by the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau.
The embezzled funds were reportedly used to buy cryptocurrency and for other purposes.
“I feel a sense of helplessness beyond anger,” Kurumada said at a news conference on Sept. 2.
He said he has known the former assistant for about 25 years, dating back to the time when he was the artist’s editor at a publishing company.
The two had continued working together ever since.
“Being a manga artist is not something that can be done halfheartedly. I devoted my full energy to creative work and entrusted all the administrative tasks to him,” Kurumada said.
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