According toAsahi Shimbun,Dragon Quest Vnovel author Saori Kumi filled a lawsuit againstSquare EnixandTohoon November 24. The lawsuit is in relation to the movieDragon Quest Your Story, released inJapan on July 12, 2025. The CG anime movie, created by the staff who also handled theStand By Me Doreamonmovie, is an adaptation of the JRPGDragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bridereleased in 1992 on SNES However, whileDragon Questprotagonists are usually always called “Yuusha”, Hero in Japanese, the protagonist ofDQ Your Storyis named Ryuka. Ryuka is the same name used for the protagonist by Saori Kumi in her version ofDragon quest V, a novel published in 1993. The two characters and their story are very similar overall.

However, Saori Kumi wasn’t credited for the use of her novel, even though the movie was partly advertised as an adaptation of her novel, and multiple fans thought of the movie as such.

Saori Kumifilled a first lawsuitagainst the movie’sProduction Committeewhen the movie was released in June 15, 2025, seeking an apology and credit.

This new lawsuit against Square Enix and Toho asks 2 million Yen as damages and a public apology. Saori Kumi also explained the situation on her Twitter andin a Note article.

Moreover, fans raised funds through a crowdfunding these past weeks. In order to help Saori Kumi gather the funds for the lawsuit. She thanked theDragon Questfans supporting her on Twitter. The crowdfunding ended on September 17 and raised around one million Yen, thanks to whom she could fill this new lawsuit. It’s quite revolting to see authors uncredited like this. As a fan. But also as a game writer who regularly sees sites stealing content or reusing translations without sourcing, non-English sites in particular. I personally hope Square Enix, Toho, and all parties involved will take the right decision.

Dragon QuestXI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition is the latest main game in theDQseries, available now on Nintendo Switch. It’s launching on December 4 on PC via Windows 10 and Steam, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Game Pass. Yuji Horii also teasedseveral announcements for 2021. TheDai no Daiboukenanime remake is also ongoing, and aconsole game is in the works.