Shogakukan MangaONE Controversy Sparks Industry-Wide Shift as TV Embraces Reboot Trend

Shogakukan’s manga distribution service “MangaONE” has triggered ripple effects that are now reaching the television industry.

“A scandal erupted after it was revealed that the editorial department had appointed a male manga artist—despite being aware of sexual misconduct allegations—as a writer for a new series. The work was pulled from distribution, and Shogakukan issued an apology while also establishing a third-party committee. In response to the incident, TV networks are also on alert. Some stations have reportedly instructed staff to temporarily suspend all drama adaptations of Shogakukan works, including those already in production,” said a prime-time network producer.

Shogakukan had already been at the center of controversy in autumn 2023 over “Sexy Tanaka-san” (Nippon TV), a drama adaptation of a popular manga. A dispute over the script escalated into a conflict with author Hinako Ashihara, culminating in intense backlash against the production team after Ashihara publicly detailed the situation, ending in tragedy that remains fresh in public memory.

“Since the ‘Sexy Tanaka-san’ incident, networks have tightened guidelines on handling original works when adapting them for television. At the same time, there has been a growing shift toward discovering and nurturing new screenwriters, as well as adopting writers’ rooms where multiple writers collectively plan storylines and episode structures. With original productions, networks have more freedom to modify scripts. The ‘MangaONE’ controversy is likely to accelerate this trend,” said a production company director.

A manga magazine editor notes that the rise in original screenplays is also influenced by changes within the manga industry itself.

“Fantasy-based ‘isekai’ or reincarnation stories that are easy to adapt into anime are very popular right now, but they are simply difficult to translate into live-action. Meanwhile, genres like infidelity dramas and revenge stories—which perform well in late-night slots and streaming—will likely continue to be adapted.”

Actors themselves are reportedly welcoming the shift toward original works.

“Popular manga adaptations come with extremely passionate fans, so actors often get criticized for things like it doesn’t match the worldview or the image is wrong, which has nothing to do with performance. Ideally, you want to land in hit original dramas like TBS’s ‘Reboot’ this January season,” said an entertainment agency executive.

Among prime-time dramas this April season, only two titles are based on manga originals, including “Tonight, in the Secret Kitchen” (Fuji TV) starring Haruka Kinami.

“Original works like ‘Reboot’ or ‘VIVANT’ in the Sunday theater slot are unpredictable in ratings, but if they hit, the payoff is huge. They can also easily expand into sequels or films, which makes them highly monetizable. That’s why networks are increasing drama slots, but at the same time, it becomes harder for projects to stand out. Competition for well-known producers and writers capable of creating compelling originals will intensify,” said the same production company director.

The industry’s “departure from source material” also brings unexpected benefits.

“With prominent producers and hit writers moving to well-funded global streaming platforms, the television industry is seeing a generational shift. New talents like screenwriter Mikusa Fukata, who created the social phenomenon ‘Silent,’ are expected to emerge more frequently,” said a key network producer

A reboot of the television industry itself appears to be underway.