Manga artist Masami Kurumada said Wednesday that a former executive of three companies Kurumada heads, along with other individuals, allegedly embezzled about ¥4.6 billion.
The former executive also served as Kurumada’s manager. Kurumada is best known as the creator of the popular manga series “Ring ni Kakero” and “Saint Seiya.”
The three companies, including copyright management firm Kurumada Production, filed a lawsuit with Tokyo District Court the same day, seeking about ¥2.88 billion in damages, excluding ¥1.8 billion that has been recovered.
“I couldn’t believe it when it came to light,” Kurumada told a news conference in Tokyo. “I feel helpless and frustrated knowing that there are people who would betray without hesitation the trust placed in them for their own personal gain.”
According to the complaint and other sources, the former executive oversaw accounting operations and external negotiations for the three companies.
From at least 2018 to 2024, the former executive allegedly transferred funds from Kurumada’s companies without permission to multiple accounts held by companies under his own control and arranged for business partners to transfer licensing fees to those accounts.
The plaintiffs claim that six other individuals were also involved in the scheme.
According to the complaint, some of the funds were used for investments in crypto assets. The plaintiffs alleged that, to avoid detection, the former executive secretly established a company disguised as an affiliate to facilitate transfers from business partners.
The alleged embezzlement was discovered around February 2024, after it was flagged by the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau. The former executive has admitted to Kurumada that company funds had been improperly diverted, while claiming that his actions were intended to benefit Kurumada.
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