Japan Raises Concerns Over Unauthorized Use of Anime in US Political Posts
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Japan Raises Concerns Over Unauthorized Use of Anime in US Political Posts
- Japan's Foreign Ministry made formal requests to the U.S. government in June 2026, stressing that Japanese intellectual property must not be used without consent.
- Kimi Onoda, Japan's Minister of State for the "Cool Japan" strategy, emphasized the need for permission when using copyrighted works, even by public institutions.
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The Japanese government has formally expressed concerns regarding the unauthorized use of its iconic anime characters in U.S. political and military promotional content. This diplomatic pushback intensified after former U.S. President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video in June 2026 depicting himself as Naruto, a popular anime character.
This incident is part of a broader pattern. In September 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security posted a video featuring Pokémon’s Ash Ketchum, which transitioned to footage of arrested immigrants. The Pokémon Company International stated it was not involved and its intellectual property was used without permission. In March 2026, the White House released a video incorporating unauthorized imagery from “Yu-Gi-Oh!” and “Dragon Ball” alongside clips of U.S. airstrikes.
Kimi Onoda, Japan’s Minister of State for the “Cool Japan” strategy and Intellectual Property Strategy, has repeatedly underlined the government’s stance on copyright. While not directly commenting on specific videos, Onoda has stressed that permission is required for copyrighted works, even for public institutions. She warned that using characters in ways contrary to the creator’s intentions could damage the work’s image and cause losses for rights holders.
Japan’s Foreign Ministry made formal requests to the U.S. government through the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo in June 2026, highlighting the risk of copyright infringement and potential harm to the public image of the works. The “Cool Japan” strategy aims to promote Japanese popular culture globally, and protecting intellectual property is considered vital for this initiative.