Kenya Suzuki

Kenya Suzuki (Born, 1981, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan - present) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for being the author & artist of Please Tell Me! Galko-chan. Kenya Suzuki made his debut as a cartoonist in 2005. In 2008, he serialized Rousokuhime in the manga magazine Fellows! Since 2014, Suzuki serialized what began as a Twitter comic, a comedy/ecchi/slice of life series called Oshiete! Gyaruko-chan (Please Tell Me! Galko-chan), through the publishing outlet Kadokawa's ComicWalker website on 27 June 2014. As of November 2015, the manga had been viewed over one million times. English translations were liscenced by Seven Seas Entertainment, with Galko-chan being made into a 12 episode short-form anime series adaptation, airing from January to March 2016. The website anime-planet lists Suzuki as a staff member for a manga similar to Galko-chan, Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro, volume 4 (anthology).

Cover image for anime adaptation of Please Tell Me! Galko-chan

The English description of Galko-chan read:

"Gyaruko-chan always speaks her mind, which may not be the wisest decision in all cases, but it's never short of entertaining! Meet the exuberant and unbelievably busty high schooler, Gyaruko, as she traverses the ups and downs of adolescence with spirit and verve, alongside her best friends--the anti-social loner, Otako, and the unpredictably honest, Ojou."

Arrest for pornography featuring minors

According to the Aichi Prefectural Police's announcement, on the 20th of December, 2021, mangaka Kenya Suzuki (40 years old) was arrested on suspicion of violating the customs law (import of prohibited goods) for importing magazines from a german nudist organization, containing pictures of naked minors. Suzuki allegedly had six photo collections that he received by international mail on two separate occasions in September and October 2020.

According to the authorities, Suzuki stated upon his arrest that he "desperately wanted to acquire nude photos of foreign children that cannot be acquired in Japan." Police allegedly confiscated 46 books and publications from Suzuki's residence, claimed to contain representations of minors which could meet the legal criteria for child pornography in Japan. In March 2022, he was sentenced to one year and two months in prison with a suspended three year sentence.

Following the verdict, Suzuki reportedly released statements in both Japanese and English, saying he does not intend to appeal the court’s decision. He also asserts that he purchased the books strictly for “[his] own personal interest,” and that they were not intended, or ever used as, drawing references for his manga. “I am deeply ashamed of my own lack of awareness and shallow behavior… I will strictly admonish myself so that I will not commit the crime again,” he adds.