Betrayed by His Manager Like Ohtani... Famous Japanese Manga Artist Suffers 40 Billion Won Embezzlement

Suspicious Fund Flows Revealed by Tax Audit
Allegations of Diverted License Fees and Unauthorized Transfers

Masami Kurumada (age 72), the author of the popular Japanese manga "Saint Seiya," has filed a massive damages lawsuit, claiming that his former manager—who managed his work for nearly 25 years—and others embezzled billions of yen from his companies. On September 2, 2026, Japanese media outlets including the Asahi Shimbun reported that Kurumada, as the representative director of the copyright management company "Kurumada Production" and two other firms, filed a lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court against his former manager, the manager's relatives, and seven individuals in total, as well as four corporations. The suit demands damages of approximately 2.886 billion yen (about 24.9 billion won).

A press conference scene of Masami Kurumada, the author of the popular Japanese manga "Saint Seiya." Photo by Asahi Shimbun

Kurumada's legal team claims the actual losses far exceed this sum. According to the plaintiff, the former manager and others siphoned off company funds and licensing income totaling approximately 40 billion yen from at least 2018 to 2024. Of this, about 1.9 billion yen has been recovered, while the remaining funds are the subject of litigation. Kurumada's side explained that the former manager served as a director and oversaw all general company affairs, including accounting, cash management, and negotiations with outside vendors for the relevant companies.

The lawyers representing Kurumada described three main methods of embezzlement during the press conference.

First, they claimed that the destination account for licensing fees owed to Kurumada’s companies was switched to another company. Specifically, the complaint alleges that the former manager established a new company with a name similar to Kurumada’s licensing management firm "NEXT WING" and diverted license fee payments into the new company’s account. Quoting Kurumada’s side, TV Asahi reported that from 2021 to 2024, approximately 1.2 billion yen in pachinko-related license fees were diverted in this manner.

The plaintiffs also alleged that the ex-manager directly transferred funds from company accounts to accounts managed by himself, his companies, or affiliated individuals.

Furthermore, Kurumada’s team explained that insurance and reinsurance were used to move funds. Premiums would be paid within Japan, then routed through reinsurance and multiple companies, ultimately sending funds to overseas entities controlled by the former manager. Kurumada's side also confirmed that some of these funds were invested in cryptocurrency assets.

Regarding how such massive embezzlement went undetected for so long, Kurumada’s side asserted that the ex-manager isolated Kurumada from external contacts. Kurumada reportedly met the ex-manager about 25 years ago during the serialization of "Ring ni Kakero 2" and worked with him for many years. To focus on creative work, Kurumada entrusted the manager with accounting and most external business. Kurumada’s side claims the former manager would describe Kurumada to those around him as "someone who dislikes meeting people," thereby preventing editors and business contacts from interacting directly with the artist.

The case came to light due to a tax audit by Japanese authorities. According to Kurumada, in early 2024, the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau sent a letter of inquiry regarding suspicious fund flows. Kurumada’s lawyers said that at first, the former manager handled the authorities’ inquiries without telling Kurumada, but direct communication eventually began between tax authorities and Kurumada’s side, revealing the suspicious transactions. It was reported that a significant portion of the recovered funds became possible due to the appreciation of the cryptocurrency the ex-manager had invested in.

Kurumada is a prominent Japanese manga artist who debuted in 1974 with "Sukeban Arashi" and subsequently hit consecutive successes with titles such as "Ring ni Kakero," "Fuma no Kojiro," and "Saint Seiya."

At a press conference, Kurumada stated, "In over 50 years in the world of animation and manga, I have never seen a person like this," expressing a sense of despair over having been betrayed by someone he had long trusted. He added that, although the ordeal made it difficult for him to trust people for a time, he intends to continue creating works for readers around the world. Kurumada also said that if he recovers additional funds in the future, he wishes to use them to help those in need.

Kurumada is a leading Japanese manga artist who debuted in 1974 with "Sukeban Arashi" and followed up with consecutive hits including "Ring ni Kakero," "Fuma no Kojiro," and "Saint Seiya." Serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" starting in 1985, "Saint Seiya," which blends zodiac and Greek mythology, was adapted into a TV anime the following year. The franchise has since expanded into games, figurines, and movies, with total worldwide circulation reportedly exceeding 50 million copies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.