Erika Ikeda, the manga illustrator behind The Apothecary Diaries, known by her pen name Nekokurage, confessed to income tax evasion during her first trial at the Fukuoka District Court on May 31, 2024.
She admitted to evading approximately 47 million yen in taxes by not reporting her income over several years, with Presiding Judge Yuko Takeda overseeing the case.
After acknowledging the charges, Ikeda explained, “I was planning to file a consolidated tax return for several years.”
The prosecution highlighted that Ikeda began her career as a manga artist in 2010 and was informed by an acquaintance about the importance of filing tax returns. Despite this knowledge, she prioritized meeting her manga deadlines over her tax obligations.
The prosecution also noted that Ikeda had a history of submitting her tax returns late, often combining multiple years’ worth into single submissions. During the trial, statements from her editor and the original author of The Apothecary Diaries were read, revealing that both had urged her to address her tax responsibilities.
Her editor warned that non-compliance could jeopardize her series, while the author advised consulting a tax accountant.
The indictment stated that Ikeda earned around 260 million yen between 2019 and 2021 but failed to meet the required tax deadlines, leading to the evasion of approximately 47 million yen in income tax. The court was informed that Ikeda has since paid the full amount, including any applicable late fees.
