A prominent Japanese anime voice actor is taking legal action against TikTok over videos he alleges feature an artificial intelligence-generated imitation of his distinctive voice. Kenjiro Tsuda, known for his roles in popular series such as "Jujutsu Kaisen" and "Yu-Gi-Oh!," filed the lawsuit earlier this year, with a court verdict expected on Wednesday in Tokyo.
The case is believed to be the first in Japan contesting the unauthorized use of an individual’s vocal identity through AI technology. Tsuda, 55, claims that a number of TikTok videos narrated with a deep, "lustrous" baritone—an attribute he says is uniquely his own—were created without his permission. The videos, posted by an anonymous user whose profile image resembled a character voiced by Tsuda, involved narrations of urban legends, occult topics, and conspiracy theories. At its peak, the account reportedly had over 200,000 followers and may have generated more than 500,000 yen (approximately $3,200) in monthly revenue.
Tsuda’s legal team argues that the account's popularity was largely built on the use of his recognizable voice, infringing his publicity rights—the ability to control and profit from the commercial use of one’s own identity. The complaint seeks removal of the videos and holds TikTok accountable for their presence. While the account is no longer visible on the platform, the Tokyo District Court’s forthcoming decision will determine whether TikTok bore responsibility for taking down the content.
TikTok has countered that the voice in question is a "generic male voice" and maintains that any similarity to Tsuda’s vocal qualities is subjective and coincidental. The platform also challenges the notion of Tsuda’s national fame, suggesting his claim does not satisfy Japan’s unfair competition laws.
The lawsuit has sparked significant discussion within Japan’s animation industry, where voice actors often achieve celebrity status alongside the characters they portray. Yuko Sasaki, executive director of the Japan Actors Union, emphasized that developing a distinctive voice requires extensive training and effort. She and other industry professionals have launched the “No More” campaign, opposing unauthorized AI cloning of performers’ voices. Veteran actor Bin Shimada expressed concern that unchecked AI voice replication could discourage aspiring voice actors from pursuing their careers.
Currently, Japan lacks specific legislation explicitly protecting vocal identity, although recent guidance from the justice ministry acknowledges that voices may be covered under existing rights relating to personal identity and likeness. Intellectual property expert Tatsuhiro Ueno noted that it is unlikely courts would fully deny a voice’s publicity rights and highlighted Tsuda’s international recognition due to his role in "Jujutsu Kaisen."
Meanwhile, veteran voice actor Michihiro Ikemizu, age 83, voiced support for Tsuda but stressed the irreplaceable value of human performance over AI. He stated that genuine voice acting requires constant emotional engagement and adaptability, qualities he believes cannot be replicated by artificial intelligence.
As AI technologies continue to evolve and intersect with entertainment, this case may set a precedent for how vocal performances are protected in Japan and beyond.