Summary
- The Japanese government has formally urged the U.S. to refrain from using anime and video game characters in official communications, with repeated requests made to the U.S. embassy since March.
- Recent instances include the Department of Homeland Security featuring Ash Ketchum in a video related to ICE operations without permission from The Pokémon Company.
- Public sentiment escalated with a petition called "Protect Japanese Manga" and a controversial AI-generated video featuring Trump as Naruto.
Japan's government has consistently expressed its dissatisfaction over the American use of its popular characters like Mario and Pokémon in social media content. The foreign ministry has made several appeals to U.S. officials, particularly highlighting unauthorized usage from the Trump administration.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi criticized the situation in April during a parliamentary session, asserting that public institutions should not use copyrighted material without explicit permission. The Cabinet Minister Kimi Onoda later confirmed that Japan's concerns were communicated through diplomatic channels multiple times, emphasizing the potential damage to these intellectual properties.
Background of the Dispute
The controversy stems from the U.S. government incorporating Japanese franchises in its social media since early 2025. Notably, a September 2025 post from the Department of Homeland Security mixed footage of Ash Ketchum with images linked to ICE raids, which The Pokémon Company stated was unauthorized. Additionally, a March post from the White House featured Wii Sports footage alongside military actions in Iran.
