VIZ Media LLC has canceled publication of the Act-Age manga series, a company spokesperson told ICv2. VIZ has stopped shipping Volume 1, which was released in July, and Volume 2, which was due to be released on September 1, and will not release further volumes of the series, which were scheduled to be released every two months going forward (see "New Viz Series").
The series has also been canceled in Japan, where writer Matsuki Tatsuya was arrested on suspicion of committing an indecent act with a female middle school student on Saturday (per NHK via Anime News Network). Matsuki reportedly told police "there’s nothing generally incorrect" with the charges.
Japanese publisher Shueisha released a statement on Monday announcing that it was ending the series after the most recently published chapter in Weekly Shonen Jump. VIZ had also carried the series in the U.S. digital Shonen Jump. "It is extremely unfortunate to have to end a series that has received so much support from so many readers in this way," the statement from Shueisha said. "However, this decision was made because of the nature of the incident, and because Weekly Shonen Jump recognizes the weight of its social responsibility." Shuisha expressed their support for artist Shiro Usazaki, who was not involved in the incident. VIZ has now followed suit with the cancellation of its print editions.
After Writer Arrested in Japan
Posted by Milton Griepp on August 13, 2020 @ 3:06 am CT