Erika Ikeda, a manga artist from Minami Ward, Fukuoka City, who prioritized her work over filing tax returns, faced her first trial on May 31 at the Fukuoka District Court .
Ikeda, who worked under the pseudonym “Neko Kurage,” was charged with simple failure to declare under the Income Tax Law for failing to declare income of about 47 million yen ($340,000) from 2019 to 2021.
The artist, known for her popular manga adaptation of the novel “The Apothecary Diaries,” admitted to the charges and stated that she had intended to file tax returns for several years of income at the same time. at the time.
During the trial, presided over by Judge Yuko Takeda, the prosecution revealed that Ikeda had been working as a manga artist since 2010 and was informed by an acquaintance of the need to file tax returns. Although aware of his obligations, Ikeda continually prioritized meeting manga deadlines over paying taxes on time.
The prosecution produced a statement from Ikeda's editor, who warned that serialization could be terminated if problems arose and advised her to file a tax refund. Additionally, the original author of “Apothecary's Diary” recommended that Ikeda consult with a tax accountant to ensure compliance with tax laws.
According to the indictment, Ikeda earned about 260 million yen ($1.9 million) selling manga artists from 2019 to 2021. However, she did not declare this income on time, leading to tax evasion. income is about 47 million yen. Since the charges were filed against her, Ikeda has paid the entire amount owed, including late fees.
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“Apothecary Diary” is a Japanese light novel series written by Hyuuga Naruto and illustrated by Touko Shino. The series began publication in 2011 under Shueisha's “Kobunsha Bunko” imprint and has since released 15 volumes as of May 2024. The light novel's popularity has led to a manga adaptation , with art by Nekokurage (Erika Ikeda), began serialization in Shueisha's “Melody.” ” magazine in 2017.
The series was adapted into an anime released in October 2023 and is 24 episodes long. This light novel series is also preparing to have a second part, scheduled for release in 2025.
Set in the early 8th century during the Tang Dynasty, “Apothecary's Diary” tells the story of Maomao, a young woman with exceptional knowledge of herbs and medicine. After being kidnapped and sold into slavery at the royal palace, Maomao becomes the servant of the queen's favorite consort, the beautiful but cruel Jinshi.
As Maomao navigates the palace's dangerous political landscape, she finds herself embroiled in a series of mysterious poisonings and plots.
Source: Livedoor News
