The editorial team behind Kadokawa’s flagship Young Ace magazine issued an official statement and public apology regarding unauthorized asset usage within the pages of Pitch-Black Infatuation (Shikkoku no Bojō). The manga, illustrated by veteran artist Kei Natsumi, adapts the horror novel penned by author Rokakoen. According to the publication desk, standard protocol dictates securing explicit consent prior to serialization approval, a safeguard that was bypassed during pre-production.
The Communication Breakdown
Detailing the sequence of events leading to the oversight, the Young Ace editorial board clarified that neither original author Rokakoen nor manga artist Kei Natsumi hold fault for the infraction. The miscommunication stemmed from ambiguous internal channels between Young Ace and the Kadokawa Horror Bunko publishing division—the imprint responsible for both Pitch-Black Infatuation and Rokakoen’s preceding work, Festival of Heresies (Itan no Shukusai).
When planning adaptations within the shared-universe framework, the editorial team sought permission to incorporate two specific recurring characters designed by Ieri Komen for the Festival of Heresies manga adaptation. Following a vague internal confirmation that utilizing the preexisting designs would likely be acceptable, production proceeded without seeking Komen's direct authorization.
Resolution and Discovery
The issue came to light following the release of the manga's first compiled tankōbon volume by Kadokawa. Upon review, artist Ieri Komen contacted the magazine after discovering that unauthorized assets extended beyond the initial two shared characters to encompass two additional figures—Ishigami and Emi Shimamoto—alongside a specific background setting. Young Ace editors have since taken full accountability for the administrative failure, offering formal restitution and apologies directly to Komen.
