Nobuhiro Watsuki, the creator of the popular samurai anime/manga series “Rurouni Kenshin,” evaded a prison sentence after being charged with possession of child pornography last year.
The 47-year-old mangaka (person that creates manga) will instead face a fine of 200,000 yen ($1,870) for his crime and for violating the country’s child pornography law, according to Nikkan Sports via Kotaku.
In Japan, possession of child porn could lead to one year in prison as well as a fine of up to 1 million yen ($9,340), according to the bill passed by Japan’s upper house of parliament in June 2014.
Watsuki was arrested by the authorities in November 2017 after investigators discovered several DVDs at his home and at his office in Tokyo, featuring girls who are believed to be under 15 years old.
Authorities found about hundreds of illicit tapes, some of which he reportedly acquired in July 2015.
“I liked girls from the upper grades of elementary school to around the second year of junior high school,” the manga author told the police.
“Rurouni Kenshin” was released in 1994 and became a massive hit not only in Japan, but also overseas. The manga has sold more than 70 million copies to date, and it even spawned a series, and several live-action adaptations.
Featured Image via Flickr / CHRISTO DRUMMKOPF (CC BY 2.0)
