Prominent Japanese journalist Shiori Ito recently issued a public apology over controversy related to the use of specific images. The specific images, details of which were not disclosed, have reportedly been the rallying point of contention leading Ito to issue her apology. It is still undisclosed when or why the controversy sparked.

In Japan, public figures are respected and held accountable for their actions, and public apologies form a part of their culture of restitution and respect. Any form of copyright infringement is taken seriously due to strong ethical and legal values.

In the US, copyright breaches are legally taken to court, and public apologies, while acceptable, are usually a secondary measure to legal actions. Image rights issues are a common area of legal dispute in Western media.