Japan’s Manga-Hating Domestic Terrorist Is Still At Large

Last year, threatening letters directed at the author of basketball manga Kuroko’s Basketball began surfacing. While the occasional hater and nut job can be expected for any popular work, this individual seems to claim that their hate for the author, Tadatoshi Fujimaki, is personal. And now, with threats of poisoning and random violence, things are actually worse.

The Japanese media really began to focus on the issue after suspicious white powder and potentially lethal liquids were sent to Fujimaki’s alma mater, the Sophia University in Tokyo. Various Kuroko’s Basketball-related events have been cancelled or restricted in various forms since then.

After December, and one of the saddest sights ever seen at the winter Comiket, the perpetrator seemed to quiet down, but began sending letters to event locations once again in April.

Two weeks ago, a letter was sent to the 7-11 convenience store chain from an individual claiming that they had put poison in new Kuroko’s Basketball wafer candies, leading the chain to recall all of their stock. The letter also mentioned Sophia University and indicated that “X-DAY will be on the last day of [Sophia University’s] culture festival (November 4t).”

Another letter was also sent to major rental chain Tsutaya, demanding that all Kuroko’s Basketball related items be removed from all 1450 stores by November 3 or else “I will harm customers.” A similar letter was sent to the bookstore chains Yurindo, Sanseido, Junkudo, and Kinokuniya. So far both Tsutaya and Yurindo have complied and removed any related items while the other three chains appear to be keeping the manga on the shelves.

Sadly, the actions of both Tsutaya and Yurindo are somewhat to be expected in Japan’s current climate where, thanks to recentfads, a single photograph on Twitter can prove devastating. Japan is currently very sensitive to even the smallest of controversies happening anywhere.

It is not certain whether all threats have come from the same source, although it is currently believed so. The personal reasons behind this animosity remain unclear. Postings on internet message boards claim that Fujimaki ruined the terrorist’s relationship with two people, though Fujimaki has stated he knows nothing about such an incident. Whatever the real reasons, it appears this individual will not stop until they’ve successfully shit in the punch bowl for everyone. Honestly, it’s been a year since this all started. You’d think the police would have made some headway by now.

Kuroko’s Basketball is currently being published in the Weekly Shonen Jump and the second season of the anime is currently airing in Japan.

「黒子のバスケ」イベント妨害　沈黙破り脅迫再開か　４月、神戸と静岡で中止 [MSN産経ニュース]
「黒子のバスケ」脅迫で産経新聞などに犯行声明文　毒入り示唆、コンビニが菓子撤去　[MSN産経ニュース]
「黒子のバスケ」脅迫状、ツタヤにも　関連商品を撤去 [MSN産経ニュース]
「黒子のバスケ」脅迫状、有隣堂にも　全３５店舗で関連商品一時撤去 [MSN産経ニュース]
「黒子のバスケ」、ＴＳＵＴＡＹＡから撤去　脅迫状届く [朝日新聞デジタル]