Renowned manga artist Hirosi Masumura took to X (formerly known as Twitter) on January 31, 2024 to express the “anguish” of original creators when their manga gets adapted into TV dramas or movies, following the sudden death of fellow manga artist Hinako Ashihara, known for works like “Sexy Tanaka-san” which was adapted into a television drama.

Masumura, known for his work on multiple manga adaptations of the works of popular children’s author Kenji Miyazawa, lamented the challenges faced by original creators when their creations are taken over by others. He highlighted the unique pain experienced by creators when their world is “destroyed” by external forces, a sentiment that only the original creator can truly understand.

The tragic news of Ashihara’s passing at the age of 50, found dead in Tochigi Prefecture on the 29th, presumably by suicide, has sent shockwaves through the manga community and beyond.

Masumura’s candid reflections shed light on the often overlooked struggles faced by original creators when their works are adapted for different media. He pointed out the pressure on creators to tolerate certain changes in order for the manga to be successful in other forms of media, leading to a sense of loss and frustration as their created world is altered by external influences.

Ashihara’s well-known work “Sexy Tanaka-san” had been adapted into a television drama broadcasted on the Nippon Television network. Reports suggest that there had been conflicts between Ashihara and the drama production team.

The scriptwriter responsible for episodes 1 to 8 of the drama took to Instagram in late December of 2023, expressing bewilderment at the unprecedented situation where the original creator insisted on writing the final scripts. This led to an unexpected collaboration, leaving the scriptwriter with a bitter experience and a hope that such a situation would not be repeated in the future.

In her blog and X posts on January 26, 2024, Ashihara detailed the circumstances that led her to personally write episodes 9 and 10 of the drama adaptation of her unfinished work. She had stipulated that the adaptation must remain faithful to the manga and that she would provide detailed outlines and dialogue for the yet-to-be-concluded parts. However, her conditions were disregarded, leading to a process of exhausting revisions and additions. Eventually, due to time constraints, she reluctantly handed over the task to someone who would adhere to her original vision.

The outcome saw Ashihara penning the final two episodes, expressing regret over her amateurish attempt and thanking the cast, production staff, readers, and viewers for their support.

The behind-the-scenes turmoil surrounding the adaptation of “Sexy Tanaka-san” serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by original creators when their creations are transformed for different mediums. It underscores the delicate balance between honoring the creator’s vision and adapting it for a new audience.

As fans mourn the loss of Hinako Ashihara and reflect on the complexities of manga adaptation, Masumura’s candid commentary serves as a timely reminder of the often-unseen struggles faced by creators in an industry where their creations take on lives of their own.

In conclusion, while manga adaptations continue to captivate audiences worldwide, let’s not forget the creative minds behind these beloved works and the emotional investment they have in seeing their worlds brought to life beyond the pages of their manga.