VIZ Media will no longer publish current, and future works of Act-Age, including graphic novels and digital volumes.
The chapters will be removed from the Shonen Jump digital vault and Weekly Shonen jump announced this via their official Twitter account on August 17.
Here’s the official statement from Shueisha on the cancellation of serialization for Act-Age –
“Matsuki Tatsuya, the writer of Act-Age, was arrested on August 8, 2020.
The editorial department takes this situation very seriously. After confirming the matter and discussing it with Shiro Usazaki Sensei, the artist for the series, we have concluded that it is impossible to continue with its serialization.
The chapter that is in combined issue 36/37 of Weekly Shonen Jump will be the final chapter.
It is regrettable 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 Shonen 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 graphic novel volumes and related publications and events will be announced as they are decided.”
Shonen Jump Editorial Department, August 10, 2020
We are shattered after receiving this news about our favorite manga, which had only one chapter left.
This amazing story about a powerful woman who always gave her best not to let her loved ones down, always taught us so much in life! Everything about Act-Age was remarkable!
But on the other hand, we’re also happy about the decision that WSJ has taken as justice shall always prevail.
On August 8, 2020, the author of Act-Age, Tatsuya Matsuki, was arrested in Japan.
It was reported that Matsuki was arrested for allegedly approaching and molesting two female middle school students in June this year, which was confirmed by CCTV footage.
The content of the case and the social responsibility of WSJ is taken with extreme seriousness. Even the published volumes of this manga will be removed from VIZ’s digital vault.
The manga was ranked 3rd in Honya Club’s Nationwide Bookstore Employees’ Recommended Comics of 2018.
Volume 5 of the manga was ranked 13th on Oricon’s weekly manga rankings chart, with 52 thousand copies sold.
The series ranked 6th in a poll conducted by AnimeJapan of “Most Wanted Anime Adaptation” and an anime adaptation, and a stage play was already on their way. But now it seems like nothing is going to happen.
Maybe we can still look forward to the future works of Shiro Usazaki, the artist of this manga series, who has been assured by the publishers for future projects.
About Act-Age
The Manga first debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in the January issue of 2018. The English release is taken care of by Viz Media. They have been publishing the Manga digitally and regularly since December 2018.
The protagonist of the story is a high school student by the name of Kei Yonagi. She lives alone with two younger siblings; their mother passed away, and their father left them.
Kei aspires to be a top-class actress someday but finds it difficult to find her break into the acting world. It’s not that she can’t act, but she acts too well.
The problem with her acting is that she loses track of reality when she starts acting. She has an extreme talent for method acting.
Most people say that acting of this intensity could lead to self-destructivity, which is why they give while rejecting her at auditions.
However, the highly acclaimed director Sumiji Kuroyama notices Kei’s talent and decides to help her get her lucky break.
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