The Apothecary Diaries Manga illustrator Erika Ikeda, known by her pen name Nekokurage, pleaded guilty to income tax evasion in her first trial at the Fukuoka District Court on May 31, 2024.
Ikeda was accused of evading taxes of about 47 million yen by not reporting his income for many years. Presiding judge Yuko Takeda oversaw the proceedings.
“I had been planning to file a consolidated tax return for several years,” she said after admitting the charges.
In his opening statement, the prosecution pointed out that Defendant Ikeda began working as a manga artist in 2010 and was established. aware of the need to file tax returns of acquaintances.
Despite this, she chose to prioritize meeting her manga deadline over fulfilling her tax obligations.
The prosecution also pointed out that Ikeda had a habit of filing tax returns late, combining several years' worth of moves with each filing.
Statements from her editor and the original author of The Apothecary's Diary were read in court, revealing that both had urged her to settle her tax responsibilities. Her editor warned that failure to comply could jeopardize her ongoing series, while the author advised her to consult a tax accountant.
According to the indictment, Ikeda earned about 260 million yen from 2019 to 2021. However, she did not submit her tax return on time, resulting in income tax evasion of about 47 million yen. The court was told that Ikeda had paid the full amount, including any applicable late fees.
Source: Livedoor News
