Kei Urana breaks her silence on the impact of piracy on manga

Kei Urana, author of Gachiakuta, spoke out about the controversy surrounding manga piracy that intensified on social media after the rollout of automatic translation on X. In a statement shared on her official account, the manga artist explained that she spent the past few days researching the circumstances of different countries, including financial issues.

Urana acknowledged that, for many people, pirate sites are the only way to read manga and that prices can be higher overseas. However, she rejected the claim that reading for free doesn't affect sales: "Free diminishes the value of things. Once people get used to getting something for free, they stop seeking out legitimate versions."

The author also asked people to stop making accusations like "you are racist" or misguided claims like "piracy is free promotion." She also revealed that together with Ando, her co-author, they have been exploring ideas to help those who can't afford to purchase the works or don't have access to them, though she can't share details yet.

The statement drew mixed reactions: while some acknowledged that her stance weighs the complexity of the problem, others criticized her for writing a manga about inequality without considering how it operates in reality.

Originally published on Anitsu by Valeria Quispe. Text reviewed and fact-checked for DonOtaku on November 5, 2026; the original date is preserved.