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Anime gacha RPG Echocalypse: The Scarlet Covenant has issued a public apology after players accused the game’s developers of plagiarizing the work of a real Japanese bladesmith in one of its character illustrations.
The controversy centers on the official key art for MR character Honorblade Chiraha. The weapon shown in the artwork bears a strong resemblance to a design created by Awa no Umi, a Japanese craftsman known for making unique sci-fi-styled knives and swords using carbon fiber and reinforced plastic. He sells some of his pieces through Yahoo! Auctions in Japan.
【デザインに関するお詫び】(1/3)
先日公開した武器イラストにつきまして、クリエイター様が制作された武器デザインと極めて類似したデザインを公開していた事実が判明いたしました。 これに伴い、該当するクリエイター様へ謝罪をいたしました。 https://t.co/hL1TgpMtiA— 【公式】Echocalypse -緋紅の神約- 好評配信中！ (@Echocalypse_JP) May 19, 2026
On May 18, Awa no Umi posted a side-by-side comparison on his X account, putting his 2023 original design next to the weapon featured in the Echocalypse illustration. While the game’s design is not an exact copy, the similarities are hard to miss, particularly the placement of specific decals on the handle and sheath of the weapon.
The backlash from the community was swift, prompting Echocalypse’s official Japanese X account to respond with a direct apology addressed to both fans and Awa no Umi. The team acknowledged the issue with the design, committed to replacing it as soon as possible, and stated that they would be reviewing and improving their quality control process to avoid similar problems down the line.
本件につきましては、運営様よりご連絡をいただき、ある程度詳細な経緯説明および今後の対応方針についてご説明を受けております。
現在は、運営様側で進められている差し替え対応等の完了を待っている状況です。… https://t.co/xIKs6Q3Xk2— 泡の海 (@awanoumi2) May 19, 2026
In a follow-up post, Awa no Umi confirmed that he had already been contacted by the Echocalypse team, who provided him with a detailed explanation of how they plan to handle the situation. Though the replacement design will take some time to go live, the bladesmith used his platform to ask his followers to stop any further speculation and to avoid directing aggressive behavior at anyone involved.
