Tokyo has issued formal diplomatic communications urging Washington to halt the unauthorized use of Japanese gaming and anime intellectual property in official U.S. government social media posts, citing commercial brand dilution and copyright infringement.<\/p>\n
Japan\u2019s Cabinet Minister Kimi Onoda confirmed that the foreign ministry raised the issue directly through diplomatic channels “multiple times,” with the latest appeal submitted via the U.S. embassy in June. Japanese officials asked the administration to weigh the potential brand damage when iconic intellectual properties are deployed without consent alongside policy announcements and promotional footage.<\/p>\n
Addressing a parliamentary session in April, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi highlighted the legal boundaries governing state communications, stating that “it’s inappropriate even for public institutions to reproduce copyrighted materials without the rightsholders’ consent.” The statement followed an official clip that integrated Nintendo Co.’s Wii Sports gameplay with footage of Iran military strikes.<\/p>\n
The diplomatic friction follows a series of administration social media campaigns utilizing Japanese entertainment assets. In September 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a promotional video mashing Pok\u00e9mon protagonist Ash Ketchum with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid footage set to the franchise’s theme song. The Pok\u00e9mon Company subsequently confirmed it never granted permission for the clip.<\/p>\n
A subsequent White House video published on X in March layered military action footage alongside clips from Yu-Gi-Oh!, Dragon Ball, Halo, Top Gun, Iron Man, and Braveheart, drawing public objections from Yu-Gi-Oh!’s official channels and Halo voice actor Steve Downes.<\/p>\n
Tensions flared again in June after President Donald Trump<\/a> posted an AI-generated video on Truth Social depicting himself as the anime character Naruto. The post prompted renewed questioning of Onoda during a June 12 parliamentary session and revitalized a Change.org petition organized by advocate Nana Suzuki titled “Protect Japanese Manga.”<\/p>\n