Anime Feminist Round-Up Covers Publisher Ethics, Accessibility, and Joseimuke Winter
The Manga One controversy shows a rare moment of public solidarity among major manga creators against a publisher's ethics, potentially shifting industry standards on accountability.
Reporting from 1 sources: Anime Feminist.
Anime Feminist's weekly round-up for February 25 to March 3, 2026, covers several industry stories. A major focus is the controversy around Manga One, which secretly rehired a writer convicted of sexual abuse against minors. Multiple manga creators, including One (One Punch Man, Mob Psycho 100), Haruko Kurumatani (Nakasetakute Doushiyou), and Misaki Takamatsu (Skip and Loafer), publicly condemned the publisher. Witch Hat Atelier creator Kamome Shirahama also commented, asking for compensation for an illustrator harmed by the situation. The round-up also includes a discussion of the manga Tank Chair and its cripple punk motifs, an interview with the director and producer of Champignon Witch, and an analysis of gender performance in In the Clear Moonlit Dusk. Other topics include a review of Peter Grill and the Philosopher's Time criticizing its sexual politics, a report on the growing trend of men wearing makeup in Japan influenced by K-beauty, and a post about Seven Seas Entertainment stating it will not use AI in translations after its acquisition by MediaDo. The round-up also notes the passing of KyoAni founder Hideaki Hatta.
The Anime Feminist round-up for late February and early March 2026 leads with the Manga One scandal, where the publisher secretly rehired a writer convicted of sexual crimes against minors. Creator One stated he cannot work with people who do not strongly condemn sexual harm against minors, while Kurumatani emphasized the need to protect children but cautioned against assuming stopping distribution is always just. Shirahama called for compensation for an illustrator who suffered secondary harm. The round-up also examines Tank Chair as an example of cripple punk, where disabled characters are portrayed as complex rather than saintly. An interview with Champignon Witch director Yōsuke Kubo explains how fairy tale references communicate the story's world efficiently. The analysis of In the Clear Moonlit Dusk argues the series diverges from shoujo predecessors by denying its protagonist a clear gender identity choice. A review of Peter Grill and the Philosopher's Time calls its sexual politics gross, noting that sexual encounters are framed as rape. The round-up also links to a report on men's makeup use in Japan, a statement from Seven Seas Entertainment against AI translation, and a memorial for KyoAni founder Hideaki Hatta.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.