Illustrated by Shiro Usazaki, the series gained a strong following for its emotional storytelling and deep look at acting and performance. Critics praised its psychological approach to characters and the intense situations they faced.

Act Age quickly became one of the standout series in the magazine. Plans for a stage play and an anime adaptation were reportedly under discussion as the story continued to grow in popularity. But that success collapsed almost overnight.

Arrest and conviction that ended his career

In August 2020, Tokyo police arrested Matsuki after reports that he had committed indecent assault against female middle school students in public. According to investigators, Matsuki approached girls while riding a bicycle and groped them before fleeing the scene. The incidents reportedly involved multiple victims.

Later that year, a Tokyo court sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years. The judge noted that Matsuki had shown remorse and had no prior criminal record. Even so, the impact on his career was immediate.

Weekly Shonen Jump cancelled Act Age without delay. All volumes were removed from stores and digital platforms. Publisher Shueisha publicly condemned the incident and cut ties with the author. At the time, many assumed Matsuki's manga career was effectively over.

Secret return to manga under a different name

Years later, that assumption has been challenged. In 2024, editors at Shogakukan's Manga ONE platform reportedly contacted Matsuki after seeing a novel he had self published online. Following internal discussions, they approved a new manga project written by him under a pseudonym.

He used the name Miki Yatsunami. Under that identity, Matsuki wrote a psychological series titled Seisou no Shinrishi. The story explored themes of trauma and mental health.

However, the illustrator working on the series reportedly did not know Matsuki's real identity or past conviction. Shogakukan later admitted that the pen name was meant to avoid linking the project to his real name. Critics say the move instead hid important information from collaborators and readers. Once the truth became public, the series was suspended while the publisher launched a review of the decision.

Another controversial hiring fuels the backlash

The situation became even more explosive because Matsuki was not the only convicted offender linked to the platform. Days earlier, reports surfaced that Shoichi Yamamoto, who was convicted in 2020 for grooming and sexually assaulting a 15 year old student, had also returned to Manga ONE under the name Hajime Ichiro. His manga Jojin Kamen had been running on the platform since 2022.

Illustrator Eri Tsuruyoshi said on X that she had very little contact with Yamamoto and had no idea about his criminal past. She wrote that she hoped the victim could recover from the trauma. The discovery that two convicted offenders were allowed to publish under pseudonyms on the same platform has intensified criticism of Shogakukan's editorial oversight.

Creators withdraw their works from Manga ONE

The fallout quickly spread across the manga industry. Several creators decided to remove their works from Manga ONE in protest. Rumiko Takahashi, the legendary creator of Ranma 1/2 and Urusei Yatsura, quietly discontinued her series on the platform.

The creators of Frieren Beyond Journey's End, Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe, also withdrew their content. Other authors including Ryuhei Tamura, Ai Minase, Minoru Takeyoshi, and Miko Mitsuki followed with similar decisions. Their actions signal a rare public protest within the manga publishing world, where creators often avoid direct criticism of major publishers.

Social media reactions have been fierce since the story broke. One user on X said, "Tatsuya Matsuki dodged jail time and his lawyer argued he already faced societal punishment. Turns out his career never actually ended." Another user described the situation as deeply disturbing, writing that a manga platform should never become a place where convicted offenders can quietly restart their careers.

Spanish commentator El Monje Miroku criticised the publisher even more strongly. In a viral post, he said Manga ONE had become "a refuge for criminals" and warned the company was damaging its own reputation. Many readers also questioned why collaborators were not informed about the authors' past convictions.

Shogakukan launches investigation as controversy spreads

Facing intense backlash, Shogakukan issued an apology and confirmed that Seisou no Shinrishi would be suspended. The company said a third party committee will investigate how the hiring decisions were made and whether proper ethical standards were followed. The controversy has already affected the publisher's public image.

The Shogakukan Manga Award ceremony scheduled for early March 2026 was postponed as criticism continued to grow. For many observers, the scandal raises deeper questions about accountability in the manga industry. Talent has long been celebrated, but critics argue that ethical responsibility should come first. Whether the investigation leads to lasting changes remains uncertain. But the anger from creators and readers suggests the issue will not disappear anytime soon.