Notice of press conference on results of emergency survey on rights of manga artists and illustrators and the response of publishers, TV, and other media

■Date and time: Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 13:00-14:00

■ Attendees: Japan Freelance League (general incorporated association) (launched April 1, 2024)

Honorary Chairman: Mitsuru Yaku

Chairperson: Yukari Nishino

Executive Director: Michihiro Ikemizu (Representative Director of the Japan Actors Union)

Managing Director: Manabu Tsuchiya (Representative Executive Committee Member of the Japan Musicians Union)

Director: Masayuki Takada (Kioicho Strategic Research Institute Co., Ltd.)

Advisors and Supporters:

Hiroko Ishihara (CEO of Teal Start Inc.)

Motohiko Umezawa (President and CEO of Moon Factory Co., Ltd.

(Director of NPO Keep Mama Smiling)

Hiroshi Ohno (member of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan; labor policy journalist)

Wu Hak-su (Chief Research Fellow, Japan Institute for Labor Policy and Training (JILPT))

Amigo Koike (Illustrator/Former President of the Tokyo Illustrators Society)

Representative of SAORI (Swap for Women in the Film Industry, a non-profit organization)

Natsumi Koizumi (Freelance writer and editor)

Summary: A report on the current status of freelance manga artists and illustrators

Report on the launch of the new organization, Japan Freelance League General Incorporated Association

There have been reports of troubles between manga artists and illustrators and the clients, such as publishers and television stations, regarding the handling of copyright and moral rights, as well as contracts that include these, for some time now, but 2024 began with the sad passing of manga artist Hinako Ashihara following issues surrounding the adaptation of her original work into a drama.

Regarding Mr. Ashihara's case, the results of the investigation have not been made public at this time, and it remains unclear whether a contract was in place, or how the original author's moral rights and right to maintain the integrity of the work were handled throughout this series of events.

On the other hand, in South Korea, the government has prepared 88 standard contracts for freelancers in the cultural and arts fields, providing clear guidelines to protect the rights of freelancers regarding remuneration and copyright. In comparison with these global efforts, no cross-sectional research has been conducted on this issue across industries in South Korea.

Therefore, the Japan Freelance League (FLJ), a general incorporated association that specializes in conducting research for freelancers, conducted an emergency survey on the current situation of manga artists and illustrators in order to prevent such problems from being repeated in Japan. Despite it being conducted right before the long weekend, about 600 people responded, and it became clear that when manga artists and illustrators enter into contracts with publishers, TV, and other media, 27.4% of them said they would “transfer copyright to the media,” and 23.3% said they would “not exercise moral rights against the media,” revealing that about one in four people are forced to sign contracts with harsh conditions for freelancers.

This time, we would like to report in detail on the state of copyright and moral rights of manga artists and illustrators in Japan, including the actual state of these contracts, based on the results of our survey. We understand that you are all very busy, but we hope you will be able to participate.

Survey Overview

Survey period: April 22, 2024 to May 8, 2024

Survey method: Online survey

Target occupation: Freelance (sole proprietor) manga artists and illustrators

Number of respondents: 570

Cooperating organization: Tokyo Illustrators Society (TIS)

*Survey creation, compilation and analysis by the Kioicho Strategic Research Institute Co., Ltd. Research Team

[About the Freelance League of Japan (FLJ)]

The Japan Freelance League was established on April 1, 2024 with the aim of becoming the organization that gathers the voices of the largest number of freelancers in Japan and conveys them to the world. We at FLJ thoroughly investigate the situation of freelance workers, improve their working environment, strengthen safety nets to deal with unexpected events, and protect their rights, thereby improving the status of freelancers. At the same time, we promote the creation of a fair environment for both clients and freelancers, and work to develop the industry.

HP:

■ Japan Freelance League General Incorporated Association Management Organization

Honorary Chairman: Mitsuru Yaku

Chairperson: Yukari Nishino

Executive Director: Michihiro Ikemizu (Representative Director of the Japan Actors Union)

Managing Director: Manabu Tsuchiya (Representative Executive Committee Member of the Japan Musicians Union)

Director: Masayuki Takada (Kioicho Strategic Research Institute Co., Ltd.)

■Cooperating organizations

NPO Women Working in the Film Industry (swfi)

Tokyo Illustrators Society (TIS)

The Japan Anime Film Cultural Association (NAFCA)

Japan Musicians Union

Japan Actors Union (Nihayuren)

■Sponsors and supporting members

Timee Co., Ltd.

■Advisor

Hiroko Ishihara: CEO of Teal Start Inc.

Masuro Ueda: Representative Director of the Japan Anime Film Cultural Association (NAFCA)

Motohiko Umezawa: CEO of Moon Factory Co., Ltd. / Director of NPO Keep Mama Smiling, etc.

Hiroshi Ohno: Member of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan; Labor and policy journalist

Wu Hak-ju, Senior Research Fellow, Japan Institute for Labor Policy and Training (JILPT)

Amigo Koike: Illustrator/Former President of the Tokyo Illustrators Society

SAORI: Representative of the nonprofit organization, Women Working in the Film Industry (swfi)

Toshiharu Suga: Attorney at Law (Tokyo Law Office)

Linda Akemi Sugayama: CEO of Happy Engine Co., Ltd.

Yusuke Dan: Representative of Yusuke Dan Office

Ichiro Natsume: Attorney at Law (Shunpo Law Office)

Junichi Nishimura: Graphic Designer/CEO of Function Inc.

Ryo Hara: President and CEO of HTAS Corporation / Vice Representative Director of Sendai Miyagi NPO Center

■ Supporters

Hirotake Kiuchi: President of Shunposha Co., Ltd.

Natsumi Koizumi: Freelance writer and editor

Takazo Koriyama: Photographer/Member of the Japan Professional Photographers Society

Tatsuya Sekiguchi: Vice-chairman of Tokyo Union (labor supply business organization)

Hajime Takahashi: Tax Accountant, Hajime Takahashi Tax Accountant Office

Akira Hamamura: Professor Emeritus, Hosei University

Yasunari Yamada: Attorney at Law (Hikari Law Office) / Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Freelance Trouble 110

Kazuo Yoshinaga: Executive Director of the Central Association for the Prevention of Industrial Accidents / Former Director-General of the Labor Standards Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

that's all