Tokyo court defends human voice, anime star wins landmark fight against TikTok’s AI clones

The decision marks a partial victory for Kenjiro Tsuda, known for his starring roles in mega-franchises including ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ and ‘Yu-Gi-Oh!’. — Picture via X/Kenjiro Tsuda

First Published: Wednesday, 30 Sep 2026 3:40 PM MYT

TOKYO, Sept 30 — A Tokyo court ruled Wednesday that the human voice is legally protected in Japan after a high-profile anime voice actor took TikTok to court over videos he says feature an artificial intelligence clone of his “lustrous” baritone.

The decision marks a partial victory for Kenjiro Tsuda, known for his starring roles in mega-franchises including Jujutsu Kaisen and Yu-Gi-Oh!, although the court dismissed his request for removal of the videos.

“The unauthorised use of a performer’s voice... can be considered an infringement on publicity rights,” said judge Aya Takahashi.

AI imitation is a growing concern among performers worldwide, and the threat has roiled Japan’s storied animation industry, whose voice actors are sometimes worshipped as much as their characters by fans.

The lawsuit is believed to be the country’s first seeking to defend an individual’s vocal identity against AI-generated copies. — AFP