President Trump’s use of Japanese anime-style imagery on his social media account has not gone over well in Japan.
The Japanese government on Friday criticized Mr. Trump’s use of Japanese companies’ intellectual property, with a top minister warning that the practice could damage the integrity of Japan’s creative exports. She said that Japan had conveyed this position to the United States.
Mr. Trump posted an apparently A.I.-generated video on his digital platform Truth Social last Saturday that included a short segment depicting himself dressed as the protagonist from the popular anime franchise “Naruto,” clasping his hands together with index fingers pointing up. The video drew backlash online from angry fans who said the imagery had been used without permission.
The frustration follows months of tension over the White House’s use of other Japanese pop culture imagery online, including from franchises like “Dragon Ball,” “Yu-Gi-Oh!” and “Pokémon.” In one case, anime imagery was used in a TikTok video posted by the White House in March celebrating U.S. airstrikes on Iran.
The White House and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the latest criticism from Japan. Naruto’s anime publisher, Bandai Namco Entertainment, and its animator, Studio Pierrot, also did not respond to requests for comment.
The White House’s prolific social media posts have also drawn from other animated franchises including “SpongeBob SquarePants,” Marvel and DC Comics and “Call of Duty.” But in Japan, where anime is considered a cultural treasure and central to national identity, the Trump administration’s use of the imagery for political purposes has set off a strong backlash.
Nana Suzuki, a 34-year-old from south of Tokyo, launched an online petition in March to urge the Japanese government to protect anime from political misuse more aggressively. The petition has garnered more than 24,000 signatures.
“I feel strong indignation when works are used to instigate military or political conflicts or to cause controversy,” she said this week. “I believe Japan should communicate that the use of images infringes on creators’ rights and that the use of content for political or military purposes is unacceptable.”
Japan’s foreign ministry lodged a complaint with the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo regarding the use of anime imagery earlier this year. In April, Shige Watanabe, a foreign ministry official, said at a parliamentary hearing, “It is inappropriate even for public institutions to reproduce copyrighted works without permission.”
On Friday, Kimi Onoda, Japan’s economic security minister, amplified that criticism during a news conference in which she warned that inappropriate use of such images “can damage the work’s image and cause harm to the rights holder.”
“We intend to continue to take appropriate measures, including communication with the United States, to ensure that our country’s copyrights are handled properly,” she added. Referring to Mr. Trump’s post from last Saturday, she said: “I sincerely hope that similar incidents will not be repeated and that this post will not be further disseminated.”
Anime creators have been vocal in their objection to the Trump administration’s use of their content. In March, Pokémon Company International said that the White House had used its intellectual property without its permission. Days later, Yu-Gi-Oh! said in a statement that “no one associated with the manga or anime had any involvement.”
The Japanese government has signaled that it generally views the protection of Japanese creators’ intellectual property as a matter of national interest, not just when it is used by Mr. Trump. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in December that Japan’s cultural content was a vital component of its “diplomatic power.”
Two Naruto fans who were shopping at an anime store in Ikebukuro, a district in Tokyo, said they were worried that using anime for political purposes could tarnish its image.
“It’s not good when works are used in ways different from their intended purpose,” said Sora Kikuchi, 22. “I like Japanese anime and want it used for good purposes.”
Her friend Sakia Kikuchi, 22, agreed.
“It would be fine if President Trump were an anime fan, but it seems he’s treating it lightly without knowing anything about it,” she said.
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