Tomomi Itano hotel filming controversy

Former AKB48 member Tomomi Itano has faced significant social media backlash following the release of a family travel vlog on her YouTube channel. The controversy involves footage filmed in the changing area of a public bath at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko.

Initially, Itano claimed she had obtained “special filming permission” for the location. However, the hotel clarified that while general filming was permitted on the premises, it did not extend to private areas like changing rooms. The situation was further complicated by an account claiming to be Itano’s legal representative, which issued threats of legal action against critics before subsequently deleting its posts and setting its profile to private.

In a later update, the hotel issued a clarification stating that the filming occurred outside of regular business hours when no other guests were present. The hotel apologized for failing to communicate that certain areas remained off-limits, a statement that prompted new scrutiny regarding whether the family received “special treatment” regarding facility access. Observers have speculated that the incident may have been driven by the pressure to maintain a strict content upload schedule following Itano’s departure from her former agency, Horipro.