Japanese officials have repeatedly requested that the U.S. government cease the unauthorized use of Japanese intellectual property, such as anime and game characters, in its social media content. These diplomatic complaints, ongoing since March, highlight concerns over copyright infringement and potential damage to the brand image of these popular franchises.
According to local reports, the Japanese foreign ministry has called out Washington over the unauthorized use of anime and game IP in social media associated with the Trump administration. In April, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated in a parliamentary session that “it’s inappropriate even for public institutions to reproduce copyrighted materials without the rightsholders’ consent.” This statement referenced a pro-war video that reportedly used footage from Nintendo’s Wii Sports.
Further emphasizing the diplomatic channels being utilized, Cabinet Minister Kimi Onoda said in June that the same principle had been conveyed to the U.S. through diplomatic channels “multiple times.” Per reports from Mainichi, Tokyo asked the administration to consider the potential damage to these intellectual properties when they are used without permission in policy-related or pro-war content.
Instances of Concern and Backlash
The U.S. administration’s social media accounts have, over the past year, incorporated Japanese franchises into their content. In September 2025, Homeland Security posted a mash-up combining Pokémon’s Ash Ketchum with ICE raid footage, set to the series’ theme song. The Pokémon Company later stated that permission was never sought for this post.
More recently, in March, the White House X account posted Wii Sports footage juxtaposed with Iran strike footage. This was followed by a second pro-war clip that wove in elements from Halo, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Dragon Ball, Top Gun, Iron Man, and Braveheart. The backlash was not limited to official channels. Master Chief voice actor Steve Downes and Yu-Gi-Oh!’s official account pushed back against the White House posts. The official Yu-Gi-Oh! account stated on X that its footage was used without the rights holder’s permission and that they were not involved.
The issue resurfaced in June after President Trump shared an AI-generated video of himself depicted as Naruto on Truth Social. This clip prompted fresh questioning of Minister Onoda on June 12. In response to the Trump post, fan Nana Suzuki reopened a “Protect Japanese Manga” petition on Change.org, which urges measures to stop the use of Japanese manga IP. Suzuki had initially launched the petition earlier, and its reopening was described as an “urgent effort to convey our protest.”
Brand Risk and Diplomatic Implications
Japan maintains strict policing of intellectual property, and its creative industries are known for carefully protecting character IP. The Japanese government views unauthorized use by a foreign state as a matter of brand risk, rather than flattery. When established franchises are placed alongside polarizing policies or content, the “damage to a work’s image” that Tokyo warns about is the dilution that rights holders track.
While these complaints are noted through diplomatic channels and are described as “small in diplomatic terms—notes to an embassy, not a lawsuit,” they land at a sensitive point concerning how the White House communicates. The specific number of times diplomatic channels have been used, the full extent of the damage to the image of the IPs, and whether the U.S. government will fully comply with the requests remain uncertain.
Why This Matters
The materials describe a narrow update: Japanese officials have expressed concerns and made repeated requests to the U. The exact number of times diplomatic channels have been used.
Broader Context
Source materials place the factual news in this context: Japanese officials have repeatedly asked the U.S. government to stop its meme posting involving Mario, Pokémon, and Naruto.
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