Overview
- Akane Shimizu published a public statement on July 6 that said she suffered sexual abuse by a family member, endured years of harassment from editors during Cells at Work!'s run, and that those pressures contributed to severe depression and a suicide attempt.
- Kodansha posted an apology acknowledging failures in its editorial management and saying it did not properly provide medical supervision, assistants, or consent for some derivative works linked to Shimizu's series.
- Shimizu says her current working conditions have improved, that she now works with a new editor, and that ongoing spin-offs and projects are proceeding only with her explicit approval.
- She alleges that during the franchise's rapid expansion some spin-offs, merchandise, and publications were produced or credited without her prior consent or proper creator credit.
- The disclosures have revived debate over Japan's manga production system, focusing attention on editor–creator power imbalances, tight schedules, and weak mental-health supports and setting up possible industry changes to contracts, crediting and creator welfare.