TOKYO, Japan — Renowned voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda has initiated a landmark legal battle against the operator of TikTok, marking what is widely believed to be the first lawsuit in Japan concerning the unauthorized use of a celebrity’s voice generated by artificial intelligence.
The lawsuit, filed with the Tokyo District Court in November 2025, demands the deletion of 188 videos published by an unidentified account between July 2024 and September 2025. According to the complaint, these videos which focused on trivia and urban legends utilized AI-generated narration designed to mimic Tsuda’s distinctive, deep vocal tone.
Case Details and Financial Impact
Legal representatives for Tsuda assert that the AI imitation was intentional and successfully misled many viewers, with user comments frequently mistaking the generated audio for the voice actor himself. The unauthorized use proved commercially viable, as the account amassed over 210,000 followers and generated an estimated monthly revenue of 500,000 to 750,000 yen through the platform’s creator monetization system.
Tsuda’s legal team argues that this activity constitutes a clear violation of his publicity rights, which grant public figures control over the commercial use of their name, likeness, and persona.
TikTok’s Response
In its defense, the operator of the TikTok app has asked the court to dismiss the case. The company contends that the narration in the disputed videos utilizes a “generic male voice” and does not uniquely resemble Tsuda’s specific speaking style, arguing that the claim of infringement is subjective and lacks merit.
Industry Support and Legal Precedent
The lawsuit has garnered significant backing from the Japan Actors Union (Nippairen), which issued a statement supporting Tsuda’s “courageous action.” The union and other industry experts highlight the case as a critical test for artist protections in the digital age, particularly as generative AI makes vocal cloning increasingly accessible and sophisticated.
This legal confrontation coincides with ongoing efforts by the Japanese government to clarify the regulatory landscape. As of April 2026, the Ministry of Justice has established an expert panel to examine how existing publicity and portrait rights can be applied to AI-generated content, with the goal of establishing formal guidelines by summer 2026.
Industry observers expect that the court’s decision in this case will set a vital precedent for the boundaries between AI innovation and individual publicity rights in Japan.