Aki Sora Creator Masahiro Itosugi Reports Google Ban After Uploading Old Works
The incident highlights the tension between regional content standards and global platform policies, a recurring issue for creators of adult or sensitive material.
Reporting from 1 sources: Anime News Network.
Masahiro Itosugi, creator of the manga Aki Sora, reported being banned by Google after uploading older works to Google Drive. The artist received a warning, appealed, and was then banned. Itosugi noted the ban affects their use of Google accounts for other services and warned others to be cautious.
Masahiro Itosugi, best known for the manga Aki Sora, said on May 16 that Google banned their account after they uploaded older works to Google Drive. Itosugi received a warning first, appealed it, and then received the ban. The artist noted the ban is a problem because they use a Google account for multiple other websites and services. Itosugi added, "It's not an issue for good people, but be careful if you ponder, 'Am I... a good person?'"
Commenters on the post offered theories. One asked if the files were uploaded uncompressed; Itosugi confirmed they were and said they had not considered the risk of a ban at the time. Another commenter said Japanese parents should avoid uploading photos of their children bathing, as Google applies "Western standards." Itosugi agreed, adding that Google does not allow users to change standards by region.
Itosugi debuted as an adult manga creator in 2004 and moved to non-adult work in 2007. The artist currently publishes The Cuckolding Wizard's Adventure under Akita Shoten's Champion RED Comics imprint. In 2011, Tokyo's revised Youth Healthy Development Ordinance listed Aki Sora among the first six titles considered for restrictions as a "harmful publication." Itosugi later reported that the first and third volumes of Aki Sora would no longer be printed, though digital releases continued.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.