Key Takeaways
- • Masami Kurumada, creator of the manga series "Saint Seiya," filed suit in Tokyo District Court on September 2, 2026, seeking 2.89 billion yen ($19.6 million) in damages from his former manager and other defendants.
- • The former manager allegedly diverted approximately 4.68 billion yen from three companies controlled by Kurumada between 2018 and 2024 through unauthorized transfers and misappropriated licensing payments.
- • A portion of the embezzled funds is believed to have been invested in cryptocurrency, according to Kurumada's legal representatives.
- • Roughly 1.8 billion yen of the alleged losses has already been repaid, with the current lawsuit seeking recovery of the remaining 2.89 billion yen shortfall.
- • The former manager, who served as director and handled accounting and administrative duties, has acknowledged taking the funds but claims he acted in Kurumada's interests with no malicious intent.
Summary
Masami Kurumada, the 72-year-old creator of the internationally recognized manga series "Saint Seiya," initiated legal action against his former manager and associated parties on September 2, 2026, in the Tokyo District Court. The lawsuit seeks damages of 2.89 billion yen—approximately $19.6 million—following allegations of systematic financial misappropriation spanning six years.
According to court filings, Kurumada Production and two additional companies under Kurumada's ownership reported combined losses of approximately 4.68 billion yen between 2018 and 2024. The former manager, who held a directorship position within all three entities and was granted broad authority over accounting, editorial operations, and administrative functions, allegedly orchestrated unauthorized fund transfers and diverted licensing payment revenues. This extended period of alleged financial malfeasance represents a significant breach of fiduciary responsibility, particularly given the defendant's access to sensitive business operations.
The source of particular concern to institutional stakeholders is the alleged allocation of stolen funds to cryptocurrency investments, though specific digital assets or amounts have not been disclosed by legal representatives. This diversion into volatile, less-transparent asset classes raises questions about risk management controls and governance oversight within Kurumada's organization.
Notably, partial restitution has already occurred: approximately 1.8 billion yen has been repaid by the defendants, reducing the remaining claim to 2.89 billion yen. The former manager has acknowledged the fund transfers but maintains that his actions were undertaken with Kurumada's best interests in view and without deliberate intent to cause harm—a characterization that will likely face substantial challenge in court proceedings.
The case underscores governance vulnerabilities in media and entertainment enterprises, where centralized administrative control and limited segregation of duties can expose asset bases to insider risk, particularly when liquid fund transfers and investment decisions remain concentrated within a single trusted operative.
According to court filings, Kurumada Production and two additional companies under Kurumada's ownership reported combined losses of approximately 4.68 billion yen between 2018 and 2024. The former manager, who held a directorship position within all three entities and was granted broad authority over accounting, editorial operations, and administrative functions, allegedly orchestrated unauthorized fund transfers and diverted licensing payment revenues. This extended period of alleged financial malfeasance represents a significant breach of fiduciary responsibility, particularly given the defendant's access to sensitive business operations.
The source of particular concern to institutional stakeholders is the alleged allocation of stolen funds to cryptocurrency investments, though specific digital assets or amounts have not been disclosed by legal representatives. This diversion into volatile, less-transparent asset classes raises questions about risk management controls and governance oversight within Kurumada's organization.
Notably, partial restitution has already occurred: approximately 1.8 billion yen has been repaid by the defendants, reducing the remaining claim to 2.89 billion yen. The former manager has acknowledged the fund transfers but maintains that his actions were undertaken with Kurumada's best interests in view and without deliberate intent to cause harm—a characterization that will likely face substantial challenge in court proceedings.
The case underscores governance vulnerabilities in media and entertainment enterprises, where centralized administrative control and limited segregation of duties can expose asset bases to insider risk, particularly when liquid fund transfers and investment decisions remain concentrated within a single trusted operative.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.