Grok AI Image Editing Legal Action: STU48 Strikes Back Against Mangaka's Deepfakes

A single click on an AI tool has ignited a legal firestorm in the J-Pop world. On January 5, 2026, mangaka Tanabe Yoichiro sparked outrage after using Grok's AI image editing feature to generate an image of STU48 member Kudo Riko in a bikini and scarf, which was widely shared on social media.

Grok AI Image Editing Legal Action: STU48 Strikes Back

The incident quickly escalated when Kudo Riko and her teammate Nakamura Mai publicly slammed the mangaka for the unauthorized edit. While Tanabe has since deleted the post and issued an apology, his comments suggested that such an act might have been acceptable if he were "closer" to the idol—a sentiment that only added fuel to the fire.

The Ethical Minefield of Generative AI

Tanabe's long history with idol groups, including drawing comics for AKB48, makes the breach of trust even more significant. This controversy highlights the dark side of xAI's Grok, which is already under investigation for its ability to generate explicit deepfakes and CSAM content on command.

Japan's notoriously strict copyright and portrait rights laws are now being put to the test. If King Records follows through with its legal threats, it could set a major precedent for how generative AI tools are regulated in the entertainment industry.