Summary
One ofCrunchyroll’s biggest hits from 2023,The Apothecary Diariesrecently became a hot topic of discussion when the manga’s illustrator was arrested for tax evasion. That said, despite the recent controversy, fans ofThe Apothecary Diariescan rest assured as the series' publisher has officially confirmed the series will continue without a hitch.
In a recent interview withIT Mediaon July 24,The Apothecary Diaries' publisher, Square Enix, revealed that they do not plan to discontinue the series, despite the series' illustrator Nekokurage being sentenced for tax evasion. While manga have been canceled for far less trivial reasons, Square Enix was quite firm in their statement which simply read, “We have no intention of discontinuing the serialization ofThe Apothecary Diaries.”
A simple reason for this is the fact thatThe Apothecary Diarieshas exploded in popularitysince its anime adaptation was released in October of last year and with a second season already on the way, the publisher likely cannot afford to axe the manga at the moment.
Recent Hit Series Proves Anime’s Impact on the Real World With Impressive Achievement
This real-world collaboration with the anime series, The Apothecary Diaries, showcases anime’s growing powerful presence in society.
The Apothecary Diaries' Publisher Assures The Manga Will Not Be Discontinued
The Manga’s Illustrator Has Issued An Apology
The Apothecary Diaries' manga adaptation by Nekokurage has currently released about 75 chapters, 68 of which have been compiled into 13 volumes so far. Square Enix will likely be able to release volume #14 without a hitch, but the fate of the series beyond that is unclear. It is difficult to say how many more chapters illustrated by Nekokurage are in reserve, but the publisher will likely have to make the switch to a new artist in the near future.
Nekokurage has been given a ten-month sentence, and it is difficult to say whether the artist will continue adapting the series afterward. That said, Nekokurage did issue a statement on their official X handle deeply apologizing to fans of the series for the inconvenience and her negligence.
In her official statement, Nekokurage revealed that she failed to file her tax returns due to ignorance but has since paid the full amount and is working with an accountant to ensure she continues properly filing and paying her taxes henceforth. In apologizing to fans ofThe Apothecary Diariesshe added:
I will accept all the consequences of my ignorance and lack of education. More than anything, I just feel sorry for the inconvenience caused and to everyone who has been supporting me. I also deeply regret that I was dishonest with everyone who is fulfilling their tax obligations. Nothing like this will ever happen again.
Nekokurage’s Art in The Apothecary Diaries Will Be Greatly Missed
While many manga have changed artists in the past, the jarring shift in art style has almost always been criticized by readers. As such, whoever fills in for Nekokurage surely has big shoes to fill, as her stunning art is one ofThe Apothecary Diaries' biggest selling points.
Granted,The Apothecary Diariesis also immensely popular due to its strong character writing and incredibly engaging story, but Nekokurage’s absence is one that will surely be felt and fans can only hope her remorse regarding the recent controversy is enough for Square Enix to allow her to continue adapting the series once the dust has settled.
The Apothecary Diaries
Cast
The Apothecary Diaries follows Maomao, sold from her peaceful life to serve in the emperor’s palace. Her unique talents emerge when she solves a medical crisis involving the imperial heirs, attracting the attention of Jinshi, a palace official, and launching her into the complex world of palace intrigue and mysteries.
