News

Log Horizon Author Mamare Touno Charged With Tax Evasion

The Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office and the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau charged 41-year old Log Horizon and MAOYU light novel author Mamare Touno (real name Daisuke Umezu) and his intellectual property holding company m2ladeJAM (pronounced "marmalade jam") with tax evasion and violation of the Corporate Tax Law on Monday.

Touno allegedly failed to file 120 million yen (around US$996,438) in royalties from the printed versions of his MAOYU and Log Horizon novels for his income tax report in a three-year period ending last year. According to the prosecutor's office, Touno owes the Japanese government 30 million yen (around US$249,114) in taxes.

When NHK reached out to Touno for comment, he said, "I've paid my taxes, but I can't comment."

Touno launched his Log Horizon light novel series in March 2011, and his MAOYU light novel series in May 2011. Log Horizon inspired two TV anime series. The first season premiered in October 2013, and the second season premiered last October. Yen Press announced last August that it will publish the light novels in North America.

MAOYU also inspired a 12-episode television anime series that premiered in January 2013.

Source: NHK News Web