Manga Artist Yōichirō Tanabe Apologizes After Posting AI-Edited Image of STU48 Idol
Manga creator Yōichirō Tanabe issued a public apology on Monday following backlash over an AI-altered image of STU48 member Riko Kudō that he shared on X (formerly Twitter) over the weekend.
In his statement, Tanabe expressed regret for the post, saying he “deeply apologizes for causing offense” and acknowledged his lack of awareness regarding privacy rights, publicity rights, and the responsible use of generative AI. He also admitted that he misjudged the professional boundaries between himself and the idols he has worked with.
Tanabe confirmed that he deleted the image and announced that he has halted all ongoing work related to the idol group involved, adding that he intends to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Incident Details
The controversy began after Tanabe used X’s newly updated AI image-editing tool to modify an existing photo of Kudō. The original image showed her wearing a white dress, while the edited version altered her outfit into a white bikini with a scarf. Reports from Japanese media outlets indicated that Tanabe claimed the image was intended as reference material for illustration work.
Following the post, Kudō reacted by quote-reposting it with sick and vomiting emojis, signaling her discomfort.
Tanabe later made another post thanking users for their feedback and vaguely referenced expressing his emotions through a song. However, the meaning of the message remained unclear, as it was later deleted. Fellow STU48 member Mai Nakamura publicly criticized the post, stating that the situation was not humorous and urging Tanabe to remove the content immediately.
Image via Amazon Japan
© Yōichirō Tanabe/Futabasha
Response From STU48 Management
STU48’s management released an official statement on Monday addressing the incident. The organization reported discovering unauthorized photos, videos, and AI-generated content modeled after its members circulating online. It emphasized that such material violates the members’ privacy and publicity rights.
The management team urged individuals to delete any unauthorized or AI-generated content immediately, warning that failure to comply could result in identity verification measures and potential legal action, in coordination with affiliated agencies.
Current Status
As of the latest update, all posts related to the AI-edited image have been removed from Tanabe’s account. Riko Kudō has not yet publicly commented on Tanabe’s apology.