Nekokurage, the artist behind the popular manga adaptation of “The Apothecary Diaries“ (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto), has broken her silence after being charged and convicted of tax evasion in April this year. In a recent update on her personal Twitter account, the author expressed her regret and assured her fans that she will resume work on the manga, thanking the support she has received from both her readers and publisher Square Enix.
The tax evasion incident by Nekokurage came to light when He was found to have avoided paying around 47 million yen (more than $300,000) in taxes.failing to report approximately 260 million yen in income earned through his work on the manga. The artist admitted to the charges and showed remorse, resulting in a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 3 years, along with a fine of 11 million yen.
In her statement, the author apologized to her followers and reiterated her commitment not to repeat this mistake in the future. In her post, she mentioned:
- «I am deeply sorry for having caused so many problems related to my tax obligations. After the recent ruling, I have seriously reflected on the incident. I am currently receiving support from a trusted tax accountant and I promise that something like this will not happen again.».
In addition, Nekokurage thanked the fans and collaborators who have continued to support her despite the circumstances, and assured that she will continue working on the manga with greater dedication:
- «To those who still wish to read my work, and to the people who have decided to allow me to continue drawing, I am deeply grateful. I hope to repay them by continuing with The Apothecary Diaries and dedicating myself to creating the best work possible».

It is important to remember that Nekokurage is responsible for the manga adaptation, as the original franchise is based on a series of light novels written by Natsu Hyuuga.which have gained great popularity both in Japan and internationally. The work follows the story of Maomao, a young pharmacist who, by chance, becomes a servant in the imperial palace and begins to solve mysteries related to the court.
Following the accusation, Square Enix reassured fans by assuring them that they had no plans to cancel the manga, despite the guilty verdict. This allowed the author to concentrate on resolving her legal issues and subsequently continue with her work. Nekokurage, now with a trusted prosecutorial team, has vowed to focus fully on his work and do everything he can to regain the trust of his followers.
The author concluded her statement by reaffirming that she hopes that readers will continue to accompany her in this new stage:
- «I'm going to draw this work even more carefully, and I hope that the people who have followed me so far will continue to enjoy it.».

With this renewed commitment, The Apothecary Diaries looks set to continue its success.while Nekokurage works to overcome the difficulties of the past and offer a quality work to its readers.
Fountain: Official Twitter Account