Streamer LEON Representative Admits Using Shiromanta Art in AI, Apologizes
The case turns less on the AI use itself and more on Shiromanta's stated reason for staying silent about his view of AI: he stressed the harm came from being deceived by someone he considered a friend.
Key Facts
- Streamer LEON representative admitted on September 4 that he ran an illustration gifted by manga artist Shiromanta through generative AI to create the logo for his Rust event 'DEATH GAME.'
- The 'DEATH GAME' event took place from August 29 to 31 and included more than 48 participants split into 12 teams, including streamers SHAKA and Kenki and Vspo! VTuber Hinano Tachibana.
- Shiromanta's illustration used in the AI process was created in 2023, and the logo was for the event LEON representative organized.
- After Kenki confirmed the details with LEON representative, the streamer acknowledged he knew the image was AI-generated and had made it by running Shiromanta's illustration through AI.
- LEON representative published an apology and a timeline on X on September 3 and announced a hiatus from activities to reflect.
Reporting from 3 sources: KAI-YOU, GameBusiness.jp, Inside.
Streamer LEON representative, active in survival games like Rust, admitted on September 4 that he used illustrations gifted by manga artist Shiromanta in generative AI, apologized, and announced a hiatus from activities. The logo for his Rust event 'DEATH GAME,' held from August 29 to 31, was created by running Shiromanta's 2023 illustration through AI. When Shiromanta first asked about the image, LEON representative said he used it without recognizing it as AI-generated and cited confidentiality in refusing to name the contractor. After streamer Kenki, a DEATH GAME participant, independently confirmed the details with LEON representative, the response changed to acknowledge knowing the image was AI-made. Shiromanta received a written apology and asked that the matter be explained publicly. In a September 3 Twitch stream, Shiromanta said he has no opinion on AI's merits, but described being lied to by a friend as sad and unacceptable. LEON representative's apology acknowledged betraying Shiromanta's trust and said he would take time to reflect.
- LEON representative runs about 101,000 YouTube subscribers and 99,000 Twitch followers.
- The event logo was made by running a 2023 illustration Shiromanta drew of LEON representative through AI.
- DEATH GAME fielded 48 participants split into 12 teams, including SHAKA, Kenki, and Vspo! VTuber Hinano Tachibana.
- Shiromanta first noticed the image in August while watching a stream tied to the event, before asking LEON representative on September 1.
- Shiromanta at first accepted LEON representative's denial, saying he chose to trust a friend, then asked that his illustrations not be used until the suspicion cleared.
- Kenki contacted LEON representative after Shiromanta asked him to stop using the image in a video, and the confirmation produced the admission.
- Shiromanta ended his roughly 15-minute stream without taking viewer questions, saying he wanted to avoid biased explanations.
- Shiromanta is best known for "My Senpai is Annoying," adapted into a TV anime, and currently draws "Karubi, Momareru." based on VTuber Karubi Akami, with Aka Akasaka co-writing the original story.
- LEON representative's written apology said he committed "an irreversible act" and that he is "full of regret for betraying your expectations."
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.