Masami Kurumada sues former manager for $19.6 million

Masami Kurumada, the creator of the manga series ‘Saint Seiya’, has filed a lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court seeking approximately 2.89 billion yen ($19.6 million) in damages. The lawsuit targets his former manager and several other defendants.

According to court filings, the former manager, who served as a director for three of Kurumada’s companies, is accused of diverting approximately 4.68 billion yen between 2018 and 2024. The alleged misconduct involved unauthorized bank transfers and the diversion of licensing payments. Legal representatives stated that some of the embezzled funds are believed to have been used for cryptocurrency investments.

While roughly 1.8 billion yen has reportedly been repaid, the lawsuit seeks to recover the remaining losses. The former manager has reportedly acknowledged taking the funds, claiming he acted in Kurumada’s interests without malicious intent.