Tokyo has formally requested Washington to stop using copyrighted Japanese anime and game characters in government social media content.
Japan’s government has repeatedly asked the U.S. to cease using anime and video game intellectual property in official posts without permission. Diplomatic appeals were made through the U.S. embassy in June, following unauthorized use of characters like Mario, Pokémon, and Naruto in administration content.
The issue escalated after a Department of Homeland Security video featured Ash Ketchum from Pokémon without approval. Japanese officials, including Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, called the practice inappropriate, citing potential damage to copyrighted material. Cabinet Minister Kimi Onoda confirmed multiple diplomatic requests to address the matter.
The U.S. administration’s reliance on Japanese franchises in policy-related posts has persisted for over a year, raising concerns over intellectual property rights and diplomatic relations.