Yatagarasu Mangaka Credited on Anime Adaptation Following Copyright Issue

Natsumi Matsuzaki, the artist of the Yatagarasu manga adaptation, is joining the staff of the upcoming Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai anime after it was discovered that the series borrowed the setting from the manga although it adapts the novel. The original novel, written by Chisato Abe, was published by Bungeishunju, while Kodansha is in charge of the manga. Matsuzaki will be credited for the design concept and as a directing assistant.

NHK, NHK Enterprises, and Pierrot announced that after a round of discussion with Abe and Matsuzaki, as well as Kodansha and Bungeishunju, they were able to come to an agreement that allows them to use manga setting and scenes in the future. Kodansha also issued a statement, saying that the copyright for the work belongs to the authors and that they simply followed procedures to obtain proper crediting for design and direction, as requested by both Matsuzaki and Abe.

Matsuzaki posted a statement on Twitter/X: “Although this was an after-the-fact approval, all issues have now been resolved so we hope you will be able to enjoy the anime without worry.” The Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai anime premieres on April 6. Yoshiaki Kyogoku is directing, with Yukiko Yamamuro on the series composition. Takumo Norita is the character designer. Studio Pierrot is animating.

Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai is the title of the second installment of Abe’s Yatagarasu fantasy novel series. Manga adaptation of Yatagarasu novels with art by Natsumi Matsuzaki was serialized under the Karasu ni Hitoe wa Niawanai title on the Comic Days platform from 2018 to 2020. The second installment began in 2020. Kodansha is publishing the manga in English, under the A Raven for All Seasons title, on its K-MANGA app, which describes the plot as:

With over 1.5 million copies sold worldwide, discover the manga adaptation of this super popular Japanese fantasy novel written by the youngest Seicho Matsumoto Award-winning author in history! In the land of Yamauchi, a world dominated by “Yatagarasu” instead of humans, it’s time for the Crown Prince to choose his Queen. Four princesses are sent to the palace by four great noble families who are fiercely fighting for power in the Imperial Court. They all have their own reasons for wanting to become Empress, and many shocking developments happen along the way. In the end, who will be selected by the prince?

Source: Comic Natalie, Natsumi Matsuzaki’s X
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