Masami Kurumada Sues Former Manager for Embezzlement

Masami Kurumada appeared at a press conference in Tokyo to detail a lawsuit against a former manager he accuses of misappropriating funds from three companies he manages.

What Led to the Lawsuit

According to the petition itself, the former manager, identified as “M,” allegedly exploited Kurumada's trust to control the accounting and external negotiations of Kurumada Productions, NEXT WING, and K-PROJECT for over 15 years.

Alleged Amount and Recovered Funds

Kurumada claims that approximately 4,686,170,000 yen (about 148 million Brazilian Reais) were misappropriated between 2018 and 2024. Of this, 1.8 billion yen has reportedly been returned, leaving a claim for compensation of approximately 2.8 billion yen.

Modus Operandi of the Alleged Scheme

The lawsuit describes three avenues of misappropriation: license payments directed to companies with names similar to Kurumada's; direct transfers to accounts controlled by the former manager and his family; and an international reinsurance scheme that culminated in deposits in a foreign company linked to “M.”

Discovery and Consequences for the Franchise

The irregularity was identified by an audit from the Tokyo Regional Tax Bureau in February 2024, which led to the partial return of funds and the cancellation of an original art exhibition planned for June 2024 in Roppongi Hills. Kurumada apologized to fans and announced his intention to reschedule the event for spring 2027.

Next Steps in the Lawsuit

The case remains in its initial stages at the Tokyo District Court, with the plaintiff seeking full restitution of the alleged amounts. Meanwhile, Kurumada continues to produce new chapters of the “Saint Seiya: Tenkai-hen” saga in Weekly Shonen Champion magazine.

With information from Eurogamer.pt, JBox, einerd.com.