Japan warns OpenAI to stop using anime and manga without permission after AI videos spark outrage

Mario

Japan’s government has officially told OpenAI to stop using Japanese artwork without permission, accusing the company of copying anime and manga styles through its AI tools. The warning comes after users of OpenAI’s AI video generator, Sora, began flooding social media with clips that looked strikingly similar to Japanese animation.

According to reports from ITMedia and IGN, Minoru Kiuchi, a senior Japanese minister who oversees both the country’s intellectual property strategy and the “Cool Japan” initiative, said last week that Japan’s art forms are “irreplaceable treasures.” He confirmed that the Cabinet Office has formally asked OpenAI to end any copyright-infringing behavior.

The move highlights growing global concerns over how AI companies are using creative works to train their systems. Japan’s anime and manga industries are a huge part of its economy and cultural identity, and the government sees this as a serious issue of artistic protection.

OpenAI has already faced heavy criticism for how it handles copyright. Its now-abandoned “opt-out” policy made it difficult for creators to stop their work from being used to train AI models. The backlash intensified with Sora’s launch earlier this year, when users began generating content that closely mimicked well-known Japanese studios and artists.

Even OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman has acknowledged Japan’s deep influence on the company’s work, calling its creative culture “remarkable.” But that hasn’t softened the criticism.

For now, Japan’s request doesn’t come with legal action—but it sends a strong message: the country wants tech companies to respect its creative heritage and stop using Japanese art styles without consent.