Kenjiro Tsuda’s AI Lawsuit Against TikTok Account That Reportedly Made ¥9M a Year, Explained

Kenjiro Tsuda, who is one of the most famous voice actors in Japan, has reportedly filed a lawsuit against an anonymous TikTok user in Japan over allegedly using the actor’s voice generated through artificial intelligence algorithms. This incident has already become a major discussion in anime and voice acting communities, as it may shape how Japanese law handles AI-generated voice cloning in the future.

The case reportedly involves more than 180 TikTok videos, which reportedly used AI tools to create copies of Tsuda’s deep and husky voice. Also, according to reports by Kyodo News Japan, the account behind these videos made more than ¥750,000 monthly.

Inside Kenjiro Tsuda’s Legal Battle Over AI Voice Cloning on TikTok

It was reported that Kenjiro Tsuda, best known for voicing Kento Nanami in Jujutsu Kaisen and Seto Kaiba in Yu-Gi-Oh!, filed the lawsuit after an unnamed TikTok user had allegedly posted at least 188 videos featuring narration created through AI that closely resembled Tsuda’s voice.

Tsuda’s legal team argues that the videos violated his publicity rights because his distinctive voice has become closely tied to his public identity and career. The lawsuit reportedly further claims that the TikTok user had intentionally used some sort of AI software to create narration sounding just like that of Tsuda, potentially infringing on his publicity rights.

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However, in response to the lawsuit, the opposing side maintained its stance, stating that no copyright violation had happened because it could simply be interpreted as a generic male voice. Meanwhile, Tsuda’s legal team reportedly presented a few comments made on the videos, such as “This sounds exactly like Kenjiro Tsuda,” which the legal team believes proves audiences immediately associated the voice with the actor.

How AI Voice Cloning Is Creating Fear Inside the Anime Industry

The lawsuit is being viewed as one of the first significant cases related to the unauthorized AI voice cloning in Japan. The rapid development of technology associated with generative AI has made voice actors worried because of the ease of imitation.

In the context of the anime industry, the lawsuit is even more significant due to the importance of voice acting to a character’s popularity and identity. If Tsuda wins this case, it can set legal standards related to voice similarity and the possibility of using artificial intelligence in the Japanese entertainment industry.

Meanwhile, the issue has generated heated debates within anime fandoms, and some people have expressed strong support for Tsuda’s position regarding unauthorized AI voice cloning. Others consider the lawsuit to be a breakthrough that can shape the future of intellectual property and digital identity protection in the entertainment industry.

Here is a quick look at some of the notable voice acting roles done by Tsuda –

CharacterAnime Series

Kento Nanami	Jujutsu Kaisen
Seto Kaiba	Yu-Gi-Oh!
Kishibe	Chainsaw Man
Joker	Fire Force
Overhaul	My Hero Academia

Here are some of the questions fans may have –

Now the big question – Do you think voice actors should have stronger protection against AI cloning? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.