Anime director Kunihiko Ikuhara says a woman's efforts to pressure him for an apology for allegedly plagiarizing her work has escalated to harassment, prompting concern for his personal safety.
Ikuhara has doubled down with legal action against the unnamed woman, according to Japanese newspaper the Mainichi Shimbun. A prolific creator in the anime industry, Ikuhara has explicitly denied the allegations, responding with a lawsuit claiming compensation for damages. This would also to serve as a deterrent against further aggravation.
Per the report, the woman's attempts to encroach on Ikuhara's personal and professional space escalated to a point that justified police support. The woman initially contacted Ikuhara in April 2022 via a direct message on Twitter, calling him out for allegedly plagiarizing one of her works. When a colleague posted one of Ikuhara's illustrations, the same woman also pointed out that this was traced from her work. Ikuhara disputed the claim, denying any similarity between the samples.
The situation allegedly came to a head when the woman emailed several companies that Ikuhara is professionally associated with, petitioning that they put pressure on him to make an apology. Ikuhara, who is also established in the industry as a writer, artist and music producer, claims the woman went so far as to contact publishers, record companies and talent agencies to express her grievances. This prompted Ikuhara to involve the police, who provided security to his home and advised that he consider canceling a concert for his own safety.
Ikuhara filed the lawsuit in June 2022, and is currently petitioning for US$29,400 in damages. In August this year, he spoke out in court to cite similar instances of harassment in the industry. He also asserted how his industry colleagues might consider the outcome of the case as a precedent for similar disputes in the future. As of Oct. 4, the woman maintains that her claims of plagiarism in court is merited.
Ikuhara has established himself as the mastermind of legendary anime shows like Sailor Moon, Revolutionary Girl Utena and Mawaru Penguindrum. He recently surprised fans and colleagues with a shift toward the music industry, changing his name to Bonsoir Ikuhara before joining the band Teiko BonBon with members Teiko and Bonjour Suzuki, who performed the opening theme for Yuri Kuma Arashi. Ikuhara is the band's music producer.
Ikuhara's lawsuit is in progress, with a court verdict expected on Dec. 13.
Source: Mainichi Shimbun
