Asian Junkie Asian pop. Without discretion.
Mangaka Tanabe Yoichiro recently took to Twitter to use Grok’s AI image-editing feature to create an image of STU48 member Kudo Riko in a bikini and scarf. Soon after, Kudo and fellow member Nakamura Mai ripped him for the post, causing Tanabe to delete and apologize.
Even in the apology, though, Tanabe seems to think if he was on closer terms with the idol then it’d be okay.
多大なご迷惑をおかけしましたことを、深くお詫び申し上げます。 pic.twitter.com/pPN1f3cjnW
— 田辺 洋一郎 (@tanabi416) January 5, 2026
Remarkably, it’s even weirder than it seems on the surface, as Tanabe apparently has ties to the sister groups of STU48 as well.
Tanabe is a small-time mangaka known for Miuman, the illustrated life story of AV actress Nakamura Miu. He's been deeply associated with idol groups for years, once having drawn 4-panel comics for AKB48. He's also done a lot of free work for former SKE48 member Matsumura Kaori. pic.twitter.com/VwCC65DrGY
— Unseen Japan (@UnseenJapanSite) January 5, 2026
STU48’s company, King Records, has since released a statement threatening legal action against malicious editing and AI-generated photos, including asking that any photos and videos taken without permission be deleted.
Honestly, maybe Japan’s draconian approach to copyright and what not will prove correct all along if it’s able to truly punish generative AI bullshit like this. Because while Tanabe is obviously gross, this is really just the tip of the iceberg for the Grok feature, which is coming under heavy fire and is being investigated for generating explicit deepfake images (mostly of women) on command and even CSAM content.
