The announcement comes two days after the manga's author, Tatsuya Matsuki, was arrested on suspicion of sexual misconduct with two junior high school girls. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Matsuki confessed that the accusations are not incorrect and admitted the charges.
The editorial department clarified in a statement that after confirming the matter and discussing it with the manga's illustrator Shiro Usazaki, it is not possible to continue with the serialization.
Shueisha's Manga Plus platform announced Saturday that it will not post the final chapter on its website and released an English statement:
Tatsuya Matsuki, the writer of Act-age was arrested on August 8, 2020.
The editorial department takes this situation very seriously, and after confirming the matter and discussing it with Usazaki-sensei, the illustrator for the manga, we have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to continue with its serialization. The chapter that is in the combined 36th and 37th issue of Weekly Shounen Jump will be the final chapter.
It is extremely unfortunate to have to end a series that has received so much support from so many readers in this way. However, this decision was made because of the nature of the incident, and because Weekly Shounen Jump recognizes the weight of its social responsibility.
We offer our deepest regrets and apologies to our readers. This is a difficult time for Usazaki-sensei, but the editorial department offers Usazaki-sensei our support and encouragement for future works.
Information about the graphic novel volumes, related publications, and events will be announced as they are decided.
The editorial department takes this situation very seriously, and after confirming the matter and discussing it with Usazaki-sensei, the illustrator for the manga, we have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to continue with its serialization. The chapter that is in the combined 36th and 37th issue of Weekly Shounen Jump will be the final chapter.
It is extremely unfortunate to have to end a series that has received so much support from so many readers in this way. However, this decision was made because of the nature of the incident, and because Weekly Shounen Jump recognizes the weight of its social responsibility.
We offer our deepest regrets and apologies to our readers. This is a difficult time for Usazaki-sensei, but the editorial department offers Usazaki-sensei our support and encouragement for future works.
Information about the graphic novel volumes, related publications, and events will be announced as they are decided.
Matsuki and Usazaki published the Asagaya Geijutsu Koukou Eizou-ka e Youkoso (Welcome to Asagaya Art High School Film Department) one-shot in Weekly Shounen Jump in January 2017, which became the prototype for Act-age. The latter began regular serialization in the magazine the following January. Shueisha published the 12th volume on July 3.
VIZ Media released the first three chapters in English simultaneously with the Japanese release in its digital Weekly Shounen Jump magazine as a part of its Jump Start initiative. The company began simulpubing the manga digitally through its Shounen Jump platform in December 2018. The first volume shipped on July 7. Manga Plus began simulpublishing the series in English last January.
Act-age ranked third in the 14th edition of Recommended Comics Selected by Japanese Bookstore Employees last year and placed fifth in the 4th Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taisho in 2018—a joint award by Kadokawa's Da Vinci literature magazine and streaming platform Niconico. The manga was also nominated for the 43rd Kodansha Manga Awards last May.
Source: Oricon News
