The announcement of an animated adaptation often brings joy to fans, but for some creators, it also means becoming a target of absurd defamation. Nene Azuki, the acclaimed author of the Mii-chan and Yamada-san manga (Mii-chan to Yamada-san), issued an official statement to stop the wave of misinformation that began circulating on social media about her private life after her work was confirmed for television.

Azuki directly addressed the theories connecting her to an account named Diana, clarifying that they are two completely different people. The artist explained that until February 2024, she only accepted illustration commissions for that account, working strictly from scripts created and managed by third parties. Azuki never had control over the narrative, profile management, or published texts, completely distancing herself from the content of those stories.

False accusations about night work

The mangaka categorically denied accusations claiming she had worked as a hostess, provided paid dating services, or recruited personnel for the adult entertainment industry. Azuki emphasized that the experiences depicted in her story do not correspond to her personal life and that she is the sole creative responsible for both the script and the art of her publishing success. Launched in 2024 via Kodansha’s Magazine Pocket platform, the manga follows two young people working at a night club in Shinjuku during 2012, accumulating millions of copies sold in the community and preparing for its anime debut in 2027.

Considering that the immense popularity of a work often leads malicious individuals to invent stories to damage authors’ reputations, do you think manga publishers should offer greater legal support to creators against online harassment?