The popular manga series “Please Tell Me! Galko-chan” has officially resumed serialization on Kadokawa’s Web Comic Apanda as of October 15, 2025, after a significant hiatus. The series had been suspended since December 2021, following the arrest and subsequent conviction of its creator, Kenya Suzuki, on charges related to the importation of child pornography.
Creator’s Arrest and Charges
Kenya Suzuki, the 40-year-old artist and author behind the high school girl comedy manga, was arrested in December 2021 by the Aichi Prefectural Police. The arrest stemmed from suspicions of violating Japan’s Customs Act by importing child pornography from Germany. Reports indicated that Suzuki had received six photo albums containing images of nude children through international mail on two separate occasions in September and October 2020. During the investigation, Suzuki reportedly stated he “desperately wanted to acquire nude photos of foreign children that cannot be acquired in Japan,” and an additional 46 books of child pornography were confiscated from his residence.
Immediate Suspension and Legal Proceedings
Following Suzuki’s arrest, publisher Kadokawa swiftly announced the indefinite suspension of “Please Tell Me! Galko-chan” serialization on its ComicWalker platform on December 24, 2021. All previously published chapters were removed from the app, and physical releases in both Japanese and English went out of print. Kadokawa issued a statement expressing gratitude to readers but confirmed the suspension due to “multiple news reports” regarding the author.
In March 2022, the Nagoya District Court’s Okazaki Branch found Kenya Suzuki guilty. He was handed a one-year and two-month prison term, suspended for three years. In Japan, a suspended sentence places the convicted individual on probation, allowing them to return to society, but the full prison term may be carried out if any further laws are broken during the probationary period. The presiding judge characterized the crime as “a malicious act that promotes the sexual exploitation of children and is detrimental to the health of society.” Suzuki admitted his guilt throughout the police interrogation and trial, expressing deep shame for his “lack of awareness and shallow behavior.” He stated that he purchased the books for “personal interest” and not as reference materials for his manga.
The Manga’s Return
After a period of uncertainty, the “Please Tell Me! Galko-chan” manga has now resumed its serialization. This return marks a significant development for fans of the series, which gained popularity for its comedic exploration of the lives of three high school girls: the titular Galko, Otako, and Ojou. The manga, which began publishing on Twitter before moving to Kadokawa’s ComicWalker in 2014, also inspired a 2016 TV anime adaptation. The decision to resume the series comes after a substantial hiatus following the legal proceedings against its creator.
