Kurumazaki Shrine AI Controversy Results in Arrest Following Online Threats
A serious case involving Kurumazaki Shrine in Kyoto has sparked national attention after a 38-year-old man was arrested for sending multiple violent threats. The Kurumazaki Shrine AI controversy erupted after the shrine posted an AI-generated image on its official social media.
Between March 23 and 27, the suspect sent numerous threatening emails, including lines such as: “Your damn shrine will burn down in a mysterious fire” and “I’ll kill all of you”, along with intense flame imagery.
Kurumazaki Shrine AI Controversy Results in Arrest Following Online Threats
According to Kyoto police, the man was furious about the shrine’s public support of AI-generated art. The Kurumazaki Shrine had commissioned a digital artist named Graham-san to create an illustration using AI technology for a shrine maiden (“miko”) character.
The image was used as the shrine’s profile picture and led to heavy debate online — with supporters defending artistic innovation and critics accusing the shrine of promoting “AI illustrators.”
Graham-san, the artist behind the image, also spoke out on social media:
“I’m really relieved that the person making the threats was arrested. I hope they get the punishment they deserve. Their motive was awful, and I heard someone at Kurumazaki Shrine had to be hospitalized because of all this.
In this case, I think the people who incited all this outrage against the shrine are just as responsible too, even if it is just on social media. Why did the shrine have to get so much criticism just for changing their profile pic to an illustration made by an AI? Was there really any need for that?”
“I’ve been through a lot of stress myself over this incident. I’ve been called a criminal, a thief, and the one to blame for all this. But now, I think it’s clear who is really to blame.
I’m very grateful to the police for taking firm action against this excessive behavior.
Again, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but if you put your thoughts into words that attack others, then it’s only natural that you’ll be held responsible. Please consider the consequences before casually attacking others.”
The suspect, who resides in Yasu City, Shiga Prefecture and is currently unemployed, admitted to sending the emails. He told police: “I was angry at their supportive attitude toward AI illustrators.”
Beyond the threats themselves, the man will also face charges for obstructing business. His actions disrupted operations at Kurumazaki Shrine, even leading the shrine to shut down its Twitter account due to public pressure and safety concerns.
The Kurumazaki Shrine AI controversy has raised wider questions about how traditional institutions engage with modern technology — and how extreme online reactions can escalate into real-world consequences.
via Kyoto NP
