Was The Apothecary Diaries Manga Canceled or Put on Hiatus? Why Did Nekokurage Commit Tax Evasion?
The Apothecary Diaries, originally based on a light novel, has become a highly popular series with two separate manga adaptations and an anime adaptation. However, some fans have wondered whether the Nekokurage manga adaptation was canceled after the artist became involved in a tax evasion case.
So, was the Nekokurage version of The Apothecary Diaries really canceled? If not, what exactly happened, and why did the tax evasion case lead to these rumors?
In this article, we'll explain whether the Nekokurage manga was canceled, what actually happened in the tax evasion case, and how it affected the series.
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Was The Apothecary Diaries Manga Canceled or Axed? Reasons Explained
The Apothecary Diaries illustrated by Nekokurage is still ongoing in Monthly Gangan and has not been canceled.
“The Apothecary Diaries” began serialization in October 2011 on the novel-sharing website “Let's Become a Novelist,” and the book series was launched in September 2012.
Subsequently, Part 1 was reissued in a new edition by Hero Bunko in August 2014, and the series has continued to be published ever since.
The manga adaptation began serialization in the June 2017 issue of *Monthly Big Gangan* by Nekokura, and the version by Kurata Minomichi began serialization in the September 2017 issue of *Sunday GX Comics*.
In 2024, Nekokurage—who serializes the manga in *Monthly Big Gangan*—was found to have committed tax evasion and faced legal proceedings; however, the publisher, Square Enix, explicitly stated, “We have no plans to suspend the serialization.”
As a result, *The Apothecary’s Soliloquy*, illustrated by Nekokurage, continues to be serialized without interruption.
ねこクラゲ先生の脱税の内容･判決の内容
Neko Kurage, the author of the manga adaptation of “The Apothecary Diaries,” was found guilty in court of evading approximately 47 million yen in taxes by failing to file a tax return. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for three years, and fined 11 million yen.
Neko Kurage was indicted by the Fukuoka Regional Tax Bureau for failing to report approximately 260 million yen in income between 2019 and 2021, resulting in the evasion of approximately 47 million yen in income tax.
Subsequently, on April 1, 2024, Neko Kurage revealed on their X account that they had already paid the full amount.
一部で報道されていることにつきまして pic.twitter.com/tZKBXyIJpC
— ねこクラゲ?薬屋⑭発売中 (@nekokurage_) April 1, 2024
Subsequently, on July 24, 2024, the Fukuoka District Court reportedly handed down a guilty verdict sentencing him to 10 months in prison, suspended for three years, and a fine of 11 million yen.
Why did Professor Neko Kurage evade taxes?
Nekokurage, the author of the manga adaptation of *The Apothecary Diaries*, apparently ignored the advice of those around her and evaded taxes because she found it too much trouble to prepare the necessary documents for her tax return.
「薬屋のひとりごと」作画担当、4700万円脱税の起訴内容認める https://t.co/hyvmvoWOXA
担当編集が「連載が打ち切りになるから確定申告するように」と言っても原作者が「税理士に相談したほうがいい」と言ってもガン無視で数年放置
これは…アカンわ…悪質すぎる
— ?だいなる??漫画作業中につき低浮上 (@Dainaru) May 31, 2024
Although Professor Neko Kurage had been made aware of the need to file a tax return by his editor, the author of *The Apothecary Diaries*, and an acquaintance, he apparently chose to prioritize his work over the hassle of filing.
検察は、冒頭陳述で「被告は２０１０年に漫画家として活動するようになり、収入について確定申告が必要だと知人から教えてもらいその必要性を認識していた。その後も税理士に相談を依頼するなどしたがおっくうに感じた。原稿の期限が迫り仕事を優先した結果、確定申告しなかった」といきさつについて主張しました。
引用：https://www3.nhk.or.jp/fukuoka-news/20240531/5010024463.html
担当編集者が「問題を起こせば連載が打ち切りになる。確定申告するように」などと指摘したとする供述調書や、「薬屋のひとりごと」の原作者も「税理士に相談したほうがいい」などと助言していたという供述調書も読み上げられた。
引用：https://mainichi.jp/articles/20240531/k00/00m/040/249000c
Furthermore, it was revealed that he had used the money to rebuild his parents’ home and cover living expenses without filing a tax return; this tax evasion was deemed egregious and drew further criticism.
Additionally, during the trial, he stated, “It was a hassle to think about taxes” and “I put my work first and kept putting it off,” leading observers to believe it was likely due to negligence rather than malicious tax evasion.
What is the difference between the Gangan version (Neko Kurage) and the Sunday version (Minoji Kurata) of *The Apothecary Diaries*?
The differences between the Gangan edition (Neko Kurage) and the Sunday edition (Minoji Kurata) of the manga adaptation of *The Apothecary Diaries* are as follows.
【Square Enix Edition: “The Apothecary Diaries”】
Published in: Monthly Big Gangan
Artist: Neko Kurage
Story: Kazuki Nanao
Series Start: May 2017
Volume Collection: As of February 2025, 14 volumes have been published (covering roughly the first half of Volume 4 of the original novel)
[Features]
・Strong romantic comedy elements, with a vibrant and cute art style.
・Incidents are depicted dramatically and are carefully drawn out to build suspense.
・However, some minor episodes from the original novel are occasionally omitted.
・Example: The episode in Volume 1 of the original novel where a wooden tablet is burned with colored flames was depicted in Episode 5 of the anime but was omitted from the manga version.
【Shogakukan Edition: “The Apothecary Diaries”】
Published in: Sunday GX
Artist: Minomichi Kurata
Series began: August 2017
Volume releases: As of February 2025, 19 volumes have been published (covering roughly up to the end of Volume 4 of the original novel)
[Features]
・Emphasizes mystery elements, with careful explanations of the story’s background and incidents.
・The art style is cool and faithful to the atmosphere of the original novel.
・The protagonist, Momo, has a personality closer to that in the original work and treats Ninji coldly.
・The story unfolds at a brisk pace, and the order of some episodes is occasionally altered.
・It fills in gaps left unexplained in the original work, making the story easier to follow.
| Monthly Big Gangan | SundayGX | |
|---|---|---|
| Artistic Style | It has strong romantic comedy elements and is very glamorous | It has a strong mystery element and is cool. |
| Story Development | Although it is depicted in detail, some minor episodes are sometimes omitted. | It provides a detailed explanation of the background and circumstances of the incident, making it easier to understand than the original work. |
| Neko Neko's Personality | A cute atmosphere | A calm personality that stays true to the original work |
| Relationship with the Jin Clan | Leans toward romantic comedy, with an emphasis on relationships | Just like in the original work, Miao Miao keeps her distance |
| Publications | Monthly Big Gangan (Square Enix) | Sunday GX (Shogakukan) |
Both adaptations allow you to enjoy the original work, but if you like romantic comedy elements and a lively atmosphere, I recommend the Square Enix version; if you prefer a more mystery-oriented, intricately crafted story, I recommend the Shogakukan version.
Final Thoughts on The Apothecary Diaries Manga
In conclusion, The Apothecary Diaries Manga has not been canceled, and there are currently no strong signs of it ending early.
Overall, the series appears to be continuing without major issues.
Tax filing is everyone's responsibility, and the tax issues should be taken seriously. However, the work itself is separate from that, and many readers will likely hope the series continues.
There are two manga versions of The Apothecary Diaries, so you can choose the one whose art style and storytelling you like better.
It may still be worth checking out for yourself.
⇒Watch the anime “The Apothecary Diaries” on Amazon Prime Video
