On October 24, eyeglass brand Zoff announced on its official website a report on the illustrations used in a campaign conducted in 2018. The illustration was created by using a photo posted on SNS as a model without prior consent. The visual was created using a photo posted on a social networking service as a model without prior consent. Although the issue of Lumine Ogikubo’s “Chuo Line Cultural Festival 2025” has been resolved between the parties concerned, this situation caused a commotion on SNS, and Lumine Ogikubo announced on the same day, “We have determined that there was a problem in the production process regarding the announcement visual for the “Chuo Line Cultural Festival” scheduled for October 18 (Sat.) and 19 (Sun.), 2025, and we will make the necessary confirmation. We have determined that there was a problem with the production process of the visuals used to announce the “Chuo Line Cultural Festival” scheduled for October 18 (Sat.) and 19 (Sun.), 2025, and will temporarily remove the visuals until the necessary confirmation is completed. In addition, Denny’s Japan, for whom Mr. Eguchi has created illustrations in the past, also issued a statement and was busy responding to the situation. Zoff commissioned Mr. Eguchi to create the illustration for a campaign conducted in 2018. From September to December of the same year, the illustration was used in promotional materials such as in-store POP, posters, eyeglass wipes, and shoppers at Zoff stores nationwide. As a result of the investigation, the company reported, “Mr. Eguchi explained that, of the four illustrations delivered at the time, two of which were pointed out on SNS, he had created them based on photographs that had appeared in magazines without obtaining permission from the models themselves, the photographers, publishers, or other rights holders. At the time of production, there was no report of this to the advertising agency or our company. He continued, “We have explained the circumstances to the model, her agency, and the publisher, and have conveyed our apologies and forgiven them,” and apologized, saying, “As for compensation, Mr. Eguchi, the advertising agency, and other parties concerned will proceed with discussions. We will continue to urge Mr. Eguchi and the advertising agency to respond in good faith. The company also stated its own policy: “We do not deny Mr. Eguchi’s creative activities or his method of expression in this matter. The essence of the problem lies in the lack of consideration for rights in the production process and inadequate procedures for confirming and reporting rights permissions,” the company wrote. The company will take steps to prevent a recurrence by reviewing the rights-related confirmation and management system in the production of advertisements to ensure that a similar incident does not occur again. Report on the Illustration Created by Hisashi Eguchi In response to a suggestion regarding the circumstances surrounding the creation of an illustration used in a campaign conducted in 2018, we have conducted an investigation into the facts. The results of the investigation and our future policy are as follows. The illustration was commissioned through an advertising agency to the illustrator Hisashi Eguchi for the Company’s campaign in 2018. It was delivered as a newly-drawn work and used in promotional materials such as in-store POP, posters, eyeglass wipes, and shoppers at Zoff stores nationwide from late September to mid-December 2018. On October 4, 2025, a person who is said to be the model of the said illustration sent out a message on a social networking service, pointing out that the illustration may have been created based on a specific photograph. ▼ Results of the Investigation In response to the suggestion, we conducted an investigation of Mr. Eguchi, the advertising agency, and other related parties. As a result, Mr. Eguchi explained that, of the four illustrations delivered at the time, two of the illustrations pointed out on SNS were created by referring to photographs published in magazines without obtaining permission from the models themselves, the photographers, publishers, or other right holders. At the time of production, neither the advertising agency nor our company was informed of the circumstances surrounding the creation of the illustrations. We have confirmed that the remaining two illustrations were created based on photographs taken by Mr. Eguchi himself, using an acquaintance of his as the model. We have explained the circumstances to the model, her agency, and the publisher, and have expressed our gratitude to them for their understanding. Mr. Eguchi, the advertising agency, and other parties concerned will proceed with discussions regarding compensation. The Company will continue to urge Mr. Eguchi and the advertising agency to respond in good faith. We do not deny Mr. Eguchi’s creative activities or his method of expression. The essence of the problem lies in the lack of consideration for rights in the production process and inadequate procedures for confirming and reporting on rights permissions. In order to prevent a similar incident from occurring again, we will take steps to prevent recurrence by reviewing our rights-related confirmation and management systems in the production of advertisements. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and anxiety this incident may have caused to the models and other concerned parties.
