In brief
Japan's government has repeatedly urged the U.S. to stop using anime and game characters in official posts, with the latest appeals lodged through the U.S. embassy in June.
The Pokémon Company confirmed it never granted permission for a Department of Homeland Security clip that mashed Ash Ketchum with ICE footage.
A Japanese fan's "Protect Japanese Manga" petition and an AI Trump-as-Naruto video pushed the issue up the diplomatic ladder.
Japanese officials have repeatedly asked the U.S. government to stop its meme posting involving Mario, Pokémon, and Naruto. Since March, the foreign ministry has called out Washington over the unauthorized use of anime and game IP in the Donald Trump administration's social media, according to local reports.Per reports, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told a parliamentary session in April that "it's inappropriate even for public institutions to reproduce copyrighted materials without the rightsholders' consent," referencing a pro-war video that used Nintendo's Wii Sports.In June, Cabinet Minister Kimi Onoda said the same principle had been conveyed to the U.S. through diplomatic channels "multiple times." According to Mainichi, Tokyo asked the administration to weigh the potential damage to these IPs when used without permission in policy and pro-war content.The posts that started itThe administration's accounts have leaned on Japanese franchises for over a year.In September 2025, Homeland Security posted a mash-up of Pokémon's Ash Ketchum and ICE raid footage set to the theme song. The Pokémon Company later said permission was never sought. In March, the White House X account posted Wii Sports footage cut with Iran strike footage, then a second pro-war clip weaving in Halo, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Dragon Ball, Top Gun, Iron Man, and Braveheart. Master Chief voice actor Steve Downes and Yu-Gi-Oh!'s official account pushed back.
