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The story
A Nikkei report has revealed that visitor numbers to the free clip-art site “Irasutoya” fell 20% year-on-year in September, according to estimates from a data analytics firm. Since its launch in 2012, the site has been widely used — including for pandemic-era awareness posters — but the spread of image generation using generative AI is believed to be behind the decline. In the 5ch thread, fans who conduct “habitat surveys” (hunting for real-world sightings of Irasutoya art around town) were highlighted, alongside clashing opinions — some expressing discomfort with AI-generated images, others arguing the site has already served its purpose.
The free illustration site “Irasutoya” is being squeezed by generative AI. According to estimates from a data analytics firm, the number of site users in September fell 20% year-on-year. Even so, there are still fans collecting real-world examples of its use around town, and collaborations with popular IPs that make use of its distinctive art style. Irasutoya saw a surge in use during the COVID-19 pandemic — can it survive in the age of AI?
Irasutoya is a free material site that illustrator Takashi Mifune started on their own in January 2012…
Source: nikkei.com / Original article here
What people said
Spotted one in London
At a certain academic conference, an American and a Czech researcher once told me,
"There's something these illustrations in Japanese-made data all seem to have in common…"
and I instantly thought, "That's Irasutoya."
All in hiragana lmao
usually show someone in a hoodie hiding their face
but the original source is this guy, right?
I think that traces back as far as V for Vendetta's Guy Fawkes mask.
Guess it just depends on the use case.
It'll draw anything with no copyright worries, so maybe we don't even need Irasutoya anymore.
AI is a substitute, but it doesn't replace Irasutoya's artistic identity.
Still, both Irasutoya and AI art have such distinctive looks that you can spot them at a glance — that much they have in common.
What "survey" lol, you're just picking your nose and clicking around lol
It's a field survey.
I know of one spot myself — a big hospital that's adopted it (there are original illustrations on the wall for things like blood-draw directions).
There's usually a male and female version of each figure, so it's less likely to get criticized over gender issues.
Background and Key Points of This Topic
Irasutoya is a free material site that illustrator Takashi Mifune started individually in January 2012, and usage surged during the COVID-19 pandemic amid demand for posters urging mask-wearing and disinfection. What sparked discussion this time is that, according to estimates from a data analytics firm, visitor numbers in September fell 20% year-on-year, with the spread of image generation using generative AI believed to be behind it. The thread was split between voices saying “AI art still feels creepy and is a hassle” and those saying “AI is a perfectly good substitute,” with several people noting that for uses where safe, inoffensive imagery is required — like government or hospital signage — it’s still in use today. A drop in visitors doesn’t mean the site is finished, and the fact that its position as copyright-free material you can use with peace of mind remains strong for certain uses is something the raw numbers in the article alone don’t fully convey.
※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Business News+) thread “【IT】Irasutoya — Fans Conduct “Habitat Surveys” as AI Squeezes Site Visitor Numbers.”
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