Controversial 'act-age' Writer Returns to Manga Scene

This is… a situation. Shogakukan has announced that Tatsuya Matsuki, the writer behind the popular series *act-age* before its abrupt cancellation, will be penning a new manga for their Manga One platform. This news comes with the significant caveat that Matsuki was convicted in 2020 for a sex crime against a minor. The publisher has gone into detail about how they came to make this decision, which, frankly, raises more questions than it answers. I'm not usually one to get overly invested in the drama behind the scenes, but this is certainly… a choice.

Look, I’m not here to judge, but I’m also not going to pretend this isn't a deeply uncomfortable development. The success of *act-age* was undeniable, and its sudden disappearance left a void. However, the circumstances surrounding Matsuki's previous conviction are, to put it mildly, serious. Shogakukan's explanation of their hiring process feels like an attempt to smooth over a very rough patch, but the fact remains that a writer with such a history is being given another platform. It's a testament to the industry's complex relationship with talent and accountability, and it's a conversation that needs to be had, however unpleasant.

Ultimately, the decision to hire Matsuki rests with Shogakukan, and the success or failure of this new manga will be on them. It’s a bold move, one that is bound to generate a lot of discussion and likely a fair amount of criticism. Whether readers will embrace this new work, or if the controversy will overshadow it, remains to be seen. I, for one, will be watching from a safe distance, with a healthy dose of skepticism. It's just… *sigh*. Another complicated mess in an industry that seems to thrive on them.