Ken Akamatsu Refers To Gege Akutami As A Woman, Igniting A Debate About The Author's Gender
Ken Akamatsu, a mangaka turned politician, allegedly revealed the gender of Jujutsu Kaisen creator Gege Akutami in a Twitter event, labeling the mangaka a woman.
Akamatsu, who wrote Love Hina and Magical Teacher Negima!, was hosting a space where manga artists could discuss issues such as freedom of expression and political correctness. While talking with fellow authors about political correctness, the conversation turned to the topic of female mangakas in the industry.
During this conversation, Akamatsu said that Akutami is a woman.
“...when I was working with ‘Samurai Deeper Kyo’ and ‘Mahou Sensei Negima!,’ half of the artists in the magazine were women.
In ‘Jujutsu Kaisen,’ there is also a woman as the author, right? Demon Slayer is also written by a woman, and I think that’s great.”
Source: MyJitsu
Many fans still believe Akutami is a man because of a prior interview with Bleach author Tite Kubo, in which the author spoke about attending an all-male junior and high school and used male pronouns.
Akutami Gege is a man, in writing
— J @ 5️⃣包帯楽園 (@soukatsu_) December 19, 2021
please stop saying it’s unconfirmed thank you goodnight https://t.co/6cYWyXSsF1 pic.twitter.com/tuxQEoKiEi
Fans also point out the interview with Kendo Kobayashi, during which Akutami spoke in a male-sounding voice.
#ケンコバ さんが朝からトレンド入りしておりますが、話題の #呪術廻戦 #芥見下々 先生（テレビ初出演！）とのトーク（番組特性メカ丸経由）が見られる #漫道コバヤシ がいよいよ今週土曜日OA！前後編ともお見逃しなく！
— フジテレビONE/TWO/NEXT（ワンツーネクスト） (@fujitv_nexco) January 28, 2021
📆1/30(土)23:00～｜2/27(土)23:00～
📺フジテレビONEhttps://t.co/33BXIchBXG pic.twitter.com/8k5ZCE44Mx
After Akutami utilized a feminine artwork in the author's introduction section in Jump, there were arguments about their gender. The debates are further fueled by the author taking persistent measures to hide their face.
Some fans also expressed their dissatisfaction with the possibility that female mangakas have to hide their faces and talk in a masculine voice in order to be accepted in the industry.
Jujutsu Kaisen
