You are proceeding to a page containing mature content. Is this OK?

check Yes, show me everything
close No, hide anything sensitive

Dengeki Still At It

shaa-plagiarism-1

shaa-plagiarism-2

Dengeki’s unrivalled reputation for employing and even awarding prizes to flagrant plagiarists continues to worsen, with yet another major incident – in this case actually involving a well known title, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (pictured with a pool cue above).

The cover of the 12th volume of the light novel, illustrated by Shaa, bears a more than uncanny resemblance to an unconnected illustration of pachinko mascot Rio, usually illustrated by Koutaro.

In fact, this is the third time complaints have been raised about Shaa tracing or otherwise appropriating the art of others – including at least one formal apology, it seems.

His previous efforts, with his versions on the left:

shaa-plagiarism-3

shaa-plagiarism-4

Dengeki appears to be garnering quite the reputation for such antics – Japanese publishers are apparently unable or unwilling to sue them into line, and despite the usual Japanese theatre of bowing and scraping little has changed.

Leave a Reply to PrinceHeir X

All comments must abide by the commenting rules.

76 Comments