"Seisou no Psychologist" author Yatsunami Itsuki was recently revealed to be Tatsuya Matsuki, who was formerly indicted for indecent assault.
Shogakukan has announced the establishment of a third-party committee to investigate its digital manga platform Manga One, after confirming a second case involving the appointment of a previously convicted author under a different pen name.
In a machine-translated statement published on 2 March on its official website, Shogakukan said that during its internal investigation into the Manga One editorial department, it uncovered a further issue concerning the appointment process for another series.
The company has launched a third-party investigation “to understand the facts surrounding the cancellation of the serialization of Operation Fallen Angel,” as well as “the facts surrounding the start of the serialization of Ordinary Person Mask.” It also aims to examine “the circumstances surrounding the involvement of the editor in charge in the reconciliation negotiations between the original author and the victim,” and to confirm the editorial department’s process for hiring writers and original authors and its awareness of human rights
Second case revealed: Act-Age writer hired under new pen name for Seisou no Psychologist
The Manga One editorial department disclosed that “Yatsunami Itsuki,” the credited original author of Seisou no Psychologist (星霜の心理士), is a pen name used by Tatsuya Matsuki, the former writer of Act-Age, which previously ran in Weekly Shonen Jump.
Matsuki was arrested and indicted in August 2020 on suspicion of indecent assault, where it was said that he allegedly approached a junior high school girl from behind on his bicycle and groped her breast as he passed her. Tatsuya Matsuki received a guilty verdict of one year and six months’ imprisonment, as well as a suspension for three years.
The editorial department confirmed that it was aware of Matsuki’s criminal record at the time it appointed him as original author. The statement said that the department had “confirmed the finalisation of the sentence and the expiration of the suspended sentence period, and reviewed what it described as his remorse, his efforts to prevent reoffending, and his engagement in psychological counselling.”
The appointment decision was made following internal discussions and approval from the editor-in-chief at the time. Regarding the pen name change, Shogakukan said it was done out of consideration for victims, noting that continuing to work under his former name could “revive [negative] memories related to the incident.”
The statement added that the editorial department now recognises this approach “should have been more carefully considered” and apologised for the possibility that the disclosure may cause further distress.
Illustrator Kaoru Yukihira, who works on Seisou no Psychologist, was informed in person by both Matsuki and the editorial team about the circumstances of the incident and the pen name change. Shogakukan highlighted that Yukihira was made aware of the potential risks should the author’s past become public and consulted in advance regarding disclosure. He reportedly expressed that it was the first time he had been moved to tears by a manga’s story and felt the work should be drawn and shared.
Third party committee formed to conduct investigation on rehiring cases
Shogakukan confirmed that it will establish a third-party committee to clarify the facts surrounding both cases, examine the author appointment process within Manga One, and review the editorial department’s human rights awareness. Details regarding the committee’s composition will be announced later.
The move follows the controversy that erupted over the weekend, when it was revealed that Kazuaki Kurita, who had been arrested and summarily indicted in 2020 for violating Japan’s Child Prostitution and Pornography Prohibition Act, was rehired under the name Hajime Ichiro as the original author of Jojin Kamen (also referred to in statements as Ordinary Mask). That disclosure led to the suspension of the series and prompted public backlash from creators and readers.
Updates to Seisou no Psychologist have been temporarily suspended from 3 March while the investigation proceeds. The company reiterated its apology to victims, creators, and readers, and stated that it will cooperate fully with the third-party committee’s inquiry.
The statement concluded that “sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and all human rights violations are never acceptable,” and expressed a strong sense of responsibility for any distress caused to those affected.