The Fukuoka Regional Tax Bureau announced on April 1 that the famous artist behind The Apothecary Diaries manga, Nekokurage, was charged with violating the Income Tax Act on February 29, 2024. Kyodo News reported that Nekourage allegedly failed to declare approximately 260 million yen (~$1.7 million in income, with 47 million yen ($310k) taxable. The undeclared income was achieved between 2019 and 2021. NHK added that according to a source close to the investigation, Nekokurage was aware of his tax filing obligations but said: “I was too busy with the series so I didn't have time to speak.” talk to a tax accountant.”
Nekokurage apologized following this announcement. She said she had previously neglected to file her final tax return due to ignorance. She added that when she learned from the tax authorities, she immediately paid the entire amount, additional tax and undeclared tax. She is currently working with an accountant to pay her taxes properly and added: “I will accept all consequences of my ignorance and lack of education.” She also expressed regret for inconveniencing those who supported her and those who paid their taxes properly, saying, “Nothing like this will ever happen again.”
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Naturally, the allegations brought unwanted attention to The Apothecary Diaries, which, after the anime's highly popular first season, immediately announced Season 2 with new visuals and a 2025 release date. Nekokurage reminded all parties that this had nothing to do with the original light novel series, written by Lucy Hyuga and illustrated by Touko Shino, or Minoji Kurata, who illustrated the other The Apothecary Diaries manga adaptation ( Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Mao Mao no Kōkyu Nazotoki Techo) in Shogakukan's monthly Gene-X Sunday magazine.
Nekokurage began work on the series when The Apothecary Diaries received its first manga adaptation in 2017 in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan magazine. The manga has been serialized since May 2017 and collected into 13 volumes as of March 25, 2024. The third Blu-ray disc for the anime adaptation by Toho Animation Studio and OLM has been released in this week.
Square Enix also licensed the manga in North America, describing it: Maomao, a young woman trained in the art of herbalism, is forced to work as a lowly servant in the inner palace. Although she yearned for life beyond the fragrant rooms, she did not yearn for a life of drudgery! Using her intelligence to break the “curse” that befalls the royal heirs, Maomao attracts the attention of handsome eunuch Jinshi and is promoted to caterer. But Jinshi has other plans for the former apothecary, and soon, Maomao is back to making potions and…solving mysteries?!
Last week, Nekokurage also revealed that she had been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, reassuring fans that there was no immediate danger.
Source: Kyodo News, NHK, Nekokurage's X (formerly Twitter)© Nats Hyuga, Imagica Infos/”Apothecary Diary Project”