Frieren, Ranma 1/2 artists pull works from Manga One after sexual abuse scandal
Polygon
by Francesco CacciatoreMarch 2, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The manga world was recently shaken by a shocking scandal involving one of Japan's largest publishers, Shogakukan. Several prominent authors, including those behind *Frieren* and *Ranma 1/2*, have withdrawn their works from Manga One, the digital platform run by Shogakukan, following allegations that the company rehired an individual previously convicted of sexual assault under a fake name. This decision by major creators has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about the publisher's ethical practices.
The controversy began when it was revealed that Shogakukan had hired a manga artist who had been arrested in 2020 for sexually assaulting an underage girl. The individual, operating under a pseudonym, was reportedly working on a new project for the company before their identity was exposed. This led to immediate backlash from both fans and creators, with many accusing Shogukan of failing to uphold proper vetting processes. The removal of major titles from Manga One has further exacerbated tensions, as critics argue that such actions harm not only the creators but also
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Originally published on Polygon on 3/2/2026