Masterpiece Heist: Masakazu Katsura's Priceless 'Video Girl Ai' Original Art Stolen and Flooding Online Auctions

A significant incident involving the theft of original artwork has been confirmed within the manga community. Masakazu Katsura, the creator recognized for the late 1990s Weekly Shōnen Jump series Video Girl Ai, has reported the complete disappearance of his original art collection following a recent studio relocation.

The loss encompasses approximately 2,500 meticulously drawn sheets, representing the entirety of the artistic output across all 15 compiled volumes of the series. The estimated financial valuation of this stolen material is reported to be around 750 million yen, which translates to approximately $4.8 million USD.

Further compounding the situation, these culturally significant and irreplaceable artifacts were quickly discovered listed for sale on Yahoo! Auctions Japan. Individual pages have been offered publicly, with starting prices noted from 100,000 yen (about $644 USD) escalating to figures surpassing 1 million yen ($6,400 USD) per sheet.

Mr. Katsura has expressed strong suspicion that the theft was executed by an organized group. This suspicion reportedly involves personnel associated with the moving company utilized during the relocation, potentially working in conjunction with a secondary secondhand dealer whose online accounts were allegedly used for the illicit auction listings.

Legal and Recovery Efforts

Initial reports suggest that recovery efforts have been complicated by bureaucratic challenges, as authorities have reportedly declined to formally accept the case at this stage. This has created significant hurdles for immediate retrieval of the artwork.

Despite these difficulties, Mr. Katsura's legal representation, led by lawyer Nao Sakai, is actively pursuing criminal proceedings to secure the return of the stolen legacy. This incident serves to highlight the inherent vulnerability surrounding original manga artwork and underscores the urgent necessity for enhanced protective measures for the cultural treasures central to creators' careers, including Katsura's other notable works such as Wing-Man and I's.

In a demonstration of industry solidarity, fellow mangaka Yoshihiro Togashi provided support by releasing a special tribute illustration featuring the protagonist Ai Amano, as the situation continues to develop.