Ibusuki Marathon organizer confirms AI in poster, corrects credit on Sept 8

The incident began when the Ibusuki Marathon's official website posted a poster on July 24, 2026, for the 44th race planned for January 2027. The poster featured canola flowers, which are part of the event's name, along with other local sights. Around September 7, users on X began noting that the flower visuals appeared different from reality, suggesting AI generation, despite the site's credit to an illustrator.

The organizer's September 8 statement serves as both a correction and a clarification. It revealed that generative AI was used, but emphasized that a graphic designer handled the composition, design, and image editing, resulting in the final visual. The statement also changed the credit from 'illustrator' to 'graphic designer,' admitting the original description was not accurate. Additionally, an apology was issued for the flower visuals, attributing the issue to insufficient checks during production and proofreading.

The episode likely highlights a growing expectation for transparency when AI tools are part of creative work. The test may be whether audiences accept AI-assisted design when the human role is clearly and accurately described, or whether any use of generative AI in promotional art will draw scrutiny. The organizer's own assessment that the poster captures the marathon's charm and Ibusuki's character suggests it stands by the final product, hoping the clarified process will address the backlash.