TLDR: A 38-year-old unemployed man has been arrested in Kyoto for sending dozens of violent threats to Kurumazaki Shrine after it used an AI-generated illustration for its social media profile picture. The man admitted to being angry about the shrine’s support for generative AI art, leading to charges of obstruction of business and causing significant distress, including the shrine temporarily shutting down its social media.
Kyoto, Japan – Authorities in Kyoto have apprehended a 38-year-old unemployed man from Shiga Prefecture on July 3, following a series of violent threats made against Kurumazaki Shrine. The threats, which included explicit messages of arson and physical harm, were reportedly motivated by the shrine’s decision to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) generated artwork.
The controversy began in March when Kurumazaki Shrine, a prominent place of worship in Kyoto dedicated to the performing arts, updated its Twitter (now X) profile picture to an illustration of a miko (shrine maiden). The artwork was created by an artist known as Graham-san, who employs generative AI in their work. This move sparked a significant backlash online, with the shrine receiving numerous hostile messages.
Between March 23 and 27, the arrested suspect allegedly sent dozens of emails to the shrine. These messages contained alarming threats such as, ‘Your shrine will burn down in a fire of unknown origin someday,’ and ‘I’ll beat you to death,’ often accompanied by images of flames. The severity of these threats prompted an official investigation.
Upon his arrest, the man confessed to the charges, explaining to the police that his actions stemmed from his anger over the shrine’s ‘supportive attitude toward AI illustrators.’ The incident caused considerable disruption to the shrine’s operations, forcing it to temporarily deactivate its Twitter account due to public pressure and safety concerns. Reports also indicate that the stress from the threats led to one individual associated with the shrine requiring hospitalization.
The artist, Graham-san, expressed relief following the arrest, stating, ‘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.’ Graham-san also reflected on the broader implications of the online outrage, adding, ‘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.’ The artist emphasized the importance of responsible online discourse: ‘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.’
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Beyond the direct threats, the suspect is also expected to face charges for obstructing business, highlighting the serious legal ramifications of online harassment and intimidation, particularly when it impacts real-world operations and personal safety. The incident underscores the ongoing societal debate surrounding AI technology and its integration into various fields, including art and culture.
