Manga artist Ashihara Hinako was found dead near Tokyo. According to Japanese media, the police are treating the death as a possible suicide as a note was found at her home on Monday. She was 50 years old.
Ashihara authored the “Sexy Tanaka-san” manga that was published by Shogakukan. In October 2023, Nippon Television aired a 10-part live-action adaptation, with Kinami Haruka as the protagonist.
The story depicts the story of a 40-year-old woman accountant who has a secret life as a belly dancer. When her secret is unearthed by a co-worker, the two manage to bring the best out in each other.
“Don’t miss this rom-com that is guaranteed to leave you in stitches constantly, with an occasion[al] dash of tears,” says the blurb for the show on NTV’s content catalog.
However, Ashihara was not in favour of it and earlier in January used X (formerly Twitter) and her own blog to criticize the NTV adaptation, saying that the live-action show did not do justice to her manga, it was wayward.
Ashihara’s other credits include “Forbidden Dance” (available in English), “Bitter – Nakechau Koi Monogatari,” “Yubikiri” and “Girls Lesson.”
Ashihara on an early Sunday afternoon posted an apology– “I didn’t mean to attack. I’m sorry”. She was soon reported missing the same day and was found dead the next day.
The Japan Times said that this case is similar to the social media outcry that followed “Terrace House” participant Kimura Hana’s death in May 2020.
The publication explained that Ashihara’s complaint against the Aizawa Tomoko-drafted screenplay was that it was far off from her original work.
Some fans on social media sided with Ashihara, and others labeled Aizawa a “crusher of original works.”
On Wednesday, Ashihara’s family issued a brief statement through Shogakukan. “We have lost our beloved family member and are in a state of bewilderment.”
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