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Nōnai Poison Berry, The Grudge Actress Yōko Maki Criticized for Comiket Plans
posted on by Amanda Whalen
Actress Yōko Maki of Nōnai Poison Berry, The Grudge, Michiko & Hatchin, and The Princess Blade (previously titled Lady Snowblood) reportedly received an outpouring of criticism after an announcement that she would be distributing copies of a crowdfunded photo magazine at the Winter 2017 Comiket 93.
Fans pointed out that setting up a sales booth just to distribute previously purchased crowdfunded items was not in line with the standard Comiket practices, as she would not actually be selling the items. Maki attempted to retroactively change the sales booth that she had registered to an exhibit in order to comply with Comiket's rules, but this may have been unsuccessful, as she announced on the photo magazine crowdfunding page that the items will now be delivered to fans directly.
In response to the controversy, Maki has deleted her Twitter account and posted a lengthy apology on the project's crowdfunding website, saying, "I saw the Summer Comiket on August 12 and ended up applying [for a booth] based on just my feelings, without learning anything about the established rules and manners of Comic Market." She emphasized that she did not want to disrupt the culture of Comiket, apologizing not only to her own fans but also to, "those who love and participate in Comiket."
Maki also gave her reasons for wanting to participate in Comiket 93, explaining that various entertainment agency restrictions make it difficult for her to interact with fans directly and that she thought this could be a fun way to distribute the crowdfunded items.
The recent Comiket 92 was held from August 11-13 at the Tokyo Big Sight. Booths for Kemono Friends and other popular series saw the usual long lines, with the most dedicated fans rushing onto the first trains in the morning or even camping out overnight in attempts to make it to the front of the queue.
Yōko Maki married a former actor in 2008 and gave birth to her first child in 2009.
Source: Yahoo! News (1), (2) via Yaraon (1), (2), Yōko Maki Photo Magazine Crowdfunding Page
