[‘Saint Seiya’ Creator Masami Kurumada Reveals Being Defrauded of 4.6 Billion Yen, Some Funds Used for Crypto Asset Investments] Deep Tide TechFlow reports: On September 4, according to Japan’s ‘Mainichi Shimbun,’ renowned Japanese manga artist Masami Kurumada, known for works such as ‘Saint Seiya,’ held a press conference in Tokyo to disclose that three companies he represents were embezzled out of approximately 4.6 billion yen (around 200 million RMB) over at least six years by a former executive and associated individuals. Kurumada stated that between 2018 and 2024, the former executive exploited their position overseeing company accounting and business negotiations to repeatedly transfer company funds into accounts under their control without authorization. They also altered the normal payment routes for licensing fees, redirecting some payments into other corporate accounts under their control. A portion of these funds was used to invest in crypto assets, including virtual currencies and related projects. Kurumada’s three companies have filed lawsuits with the Tokyo District Court against seven individuals and four companies, seeking compensation for the remaining losses.