My Hero Academia chapter 259 originally named the villain doctor Shiga Maruta. After readers said the name evoked painful historical memories, Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump editorial department apologized and changed it to Garaki Kyudai. The publisher said the association was unintended; the historical connection, including references to Unit 731 in contemporary coverage, was raised by readers and reporting.
What happened in chapter 259?
Chapter 259 appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump issue 10, released on February 3, 2020. The character was introduced under the name 志賀 丸太, rendered Shiga Maruta. He is a doctor working for the villains, a context that contributed to readers’ reaction to the name.
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Readers, including readers overseas and in China, told the publisher that the name brought to mind memories of tragic historical events. Contemporary coverage connected the reaction to Unit 731, the Japanese military unit associated with wartime human experimentation. That association was part of the public response; it was not presented by the publisher as the author’s intention.
Why did Shueisha apologize?
In a February 10, 2020 notice, the Weekly Shonen Jump Editorial Department said the author and editors had not intended to connect the character’s name with unrelated historical events. It explained that “Shiga” came from Shigaraki, while “Maruta” was chosen with the character’s round, stout appearance in mind. This is the publisher’s account of the naming rationale.
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The department apologized to people who had been hurt or made uncomfortable and said it would work to deepen its understanding of different histories and cultures. In its February 3 notice, the department had already said the name would be changed in the collected edition. The fuller February 10 notice announced the replacement name, Garaki Kyudai, and said the digital edition would be updated before the collected edition was published.
Timeline of the name change
- February 3, 2020: Chapter 259 appeared in issue 10 of Weekly Shonen Jump. The editorial department said the original name was not intended to evoke historical events and that it would be changed in the collected edition.
- February 10, 2020: The department issued a fuller explanation, described its naming rationale, apologized, named Garaki Kyudai as the replacement, and announced a digital-edition update ahead of the collected edition.
What the controversy establishes—and what it does not
The publisher acknowledged the concern, apologized, and changed the name. Its notices state that the historical association was not intended. The available notices and contemporary reporting do not establish that every affected reader accepted the apology or that the change ended all criticism.
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The publisher said the correction would reach digital editions and the collected edition, but those notices do not verify the contents of every current print or digital release. Check the specific edition if you need to know which name appears in it.
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