Just days after Cells at Work! creator Akane Shimizu publicly shared her experiences regarding her working environment during the manga’s serialization, publisher Kodansha has released an official apology acknowledging editorial management failures and shortcomings in its support system.
In a statement published on its official website, Kodansha apologized for failing to properly address multiple requests made by Shimizu during the serialization of Cells at Work!. The publisher admitted it did not establish an adequate medical supervision system or provide an appropriate working environment, including arranging assistants for the manga’s production.
Kodansha also acknowledged that for several spin-off works and publications derived from screen adaptations released after the manga ended, Shimizu was not properly consulted in advance regarding how she would be credited.
The publisher stated:
“Despite receiving multiple requests from Ms. Shimizu during the serialization to improve her working conditions, we failed to properly establish an adequate medical supervision system and provide an appropriate working environment for creating the manga, including arranging assistants.”
Kodansha further apologized for the emotional distress caused by what it described as shortcomings in the editorial department’s management system and inappropriate handling of these matters.
According to the statement, the editor involved is no longer assigned to Akane Shimizu. However, Kodansha emphasized that the issue extends beyond a single editor and reflects broader problems within the editorial department’s management and supervisory systems.
The company also revealed that it is currently holding discussions with Shimizu to resolve issues related to past events. It further confirmed that the manga creator is now working in a positive environment where her wishes are given the highest priority, both regarding her current support system and future projects.
Kodansha concluded its statement by saying it will strengthen its creator support systems and foster a healthier working environment so manga creators can continue their work with peace of mind.
Following Kodansha’s apology, Akane Shimizu also addressed fans through X (formerly Twitter). She thanked the editorial department for responding sincerely and confirmed that discussions with Kodansha are ongoing.
“The editorial department has presented me with a letter of apology, and I would like to report that. I sincerely appreciate everyone involved for responding to my posts with sincerity. I also deeply apologize for causing concern to everyone who read my posts.”
Shimizu also reassured readers that all current spin-offs, collaborations, licensed projects, and new works are now proceeding only after receiving her approval, and that she has built a positive relationship with her current editor.
Earlier this week, the Cells at Work! creator published a series of posts detailing issues she experienced during the manga’s serialization between 2014 and its conclusion. She stated that the posts were intended to organize events from her own perspective and clarified that these editorial concerns were completely separate from the sexual victimization case involving relatives that she recently disclosed.
Shimizu explained that she had reached her limit after carrying these experiences alone for many years, which ultimately led her to publicly share her side of the story.
About Cells at Work!
Cells at Work! (Japanese: Hataraku Saibou) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akane Shimizu. It was serialized in Kodansha’s Monthly Shonen Sirius magazine from January 2015 to January 2021.
The manga anthropomorphizes the cells of the human body, with Red Blood Cell and White Blood Cell serving as the main protagonists as they battle diseases, bacteria, and viruses inside the human body. The series later received multiple spin-offs, an anime television adaptation, stage plays, novels, and a live-action film adaptation, becoming one of the most recognizable educational manga franchises in recent years.
Source: Oricon
