A New Move Against Piracy from Gachiakuta Creator Kei Urana: "We Will Increase Accessibility"
Kei Urana, the creator of the popular manga series Gachiakuta, has joined the long-standing debate on piracy in the manga world with a constructive approach. Urana, along with the series' graphic designer and graffiti artist Hideyoshi Ando, announced that they are working on new access methods for readers who cannot reach the manga through legal channels or have limited financial means. In a statement made via social media, Urana said, "Ando and I have been discussing for a long time how people who cannot afford it or do not have official access can enjoy these works. I cannot share the details yet, but we are working on many ideas."
This move comes at a time when the manga industry is suffering billions of dollars in losses due to pirated publications. According to data from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, losses from digital content piracy reached 5.7 trillion yen (approximately 38 billion dollars) as of 2025, up from 2 trillion yen in 2022. Kei Urana emphasized that she understands pirate sites are the only option for many readers, but that "free" content diminishes the value of creative labor. Urana stated that she is researching economic conditions in different countries and wants to develop more accessible models that will encourage fans to turn to legal channels.
Starting its journey in Weekly Shōnen Magazine in February 2022, Gachiakuta achieved great success in a short time. Urana, a former assistant to Atsushi Ohkubo, the creator of legendary series such as Soul Eater and Fire Force, draws attention as someone her mentor called his "successor." The series presents a modern dystopia by combining a boy's struggle for revenge and survival after being thrown into a dump with Hideyoshi Ando's unique graffiti style. The series, which doubled its popularity with its anime adaptation prepared by Studio Bones in 2025, has now reached millions of copies in sales worldwide.
Urana's proactive approach has caused a great stir in the manga community. While most mangaka are content with just condemning piracy, Urana's focus on the issues of "accessibility" and "cost" at the root of the problem has been appreciated by fans. In the future, this initiative is expected to materialize in the form of special subscription models or region-specific pricing in collaboration with major publishers like Kodansha. If this step is successful, a new standard could be set for other mangaka in the fight against piracy.
