Japanese court recognises rights to voice against AI misuse
The ruling backs a lawsuit by anime actor Kenjiro Tsuda against a TikTok account that used an AI‑generated copy of his voice in more than 180 videos.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A Tokyo District Court has granted legal protection to a human voice, ruling in favour of anime voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda in a case against an unauthorized AI clone on TikTok.
What happened
Tsuda sued the anonymous operator of a TikTok account called “Nanami” for using an artificial‑intelligence replica of his trademark baritone to narrate over 180 videos featuring urban legends and paranormal stories. The court ordered the removal of the infringing material and recognised the voice as a protectable personal attribute.
What the reports add
- The decision was described by the Associated Press as the first legal acknowledgement in Japan that a human voice can be protected as an element of personal identity.
- The Independent noted that the presiding judge, Aya Takahashi, said the voice is “symbolic of individual personality, just like one's portrait.”
- Both outlets reported that the TikTok account had amassed more than 200,000 subscribers by November 2025.
- The court dismissed Tsuda’s request that all videos be deleted because the account had already been closed.
- The ruling highlighted growing concerns among Japanese voice actors about AI‑generated reproductions of their performances, echoing industry discussions about OpenAI’s 2024 decision to halt a ChatGPT voice after Scarlett Johansson’s complaint and recent deals by actors Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey with ElevenLabs.
What was said
“The human voice is symbolic of individual personality, just like one’s portrait,”
Presiding Judge Aya Takahashi said, as reported by both the Associated Press and the Independent.
“It is appropriate to consider the unauthorized use with an obvious intention to take advantage of the commercial appeal of Tsuda’s voice an infringement of publicity rights,”
The judge added, according to the court document cited by the sources.
How it came about
Tsuda, known for roles such as Kento Nanami in the anime “Jujutsu Kaisen,” filed the lawsuit after discovering the TikTok account’s AI‑generated videos. The defendant argued that the videos used an AI‑generated voice that sounded like Tsuda’s but was not his, and that the content did not damage his reputation as a voice actor.
Key facts
- Tokyo District Court granted legal protection to a human voice in an AI clone case. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Kenjiro Tsuda sued the TikTok account “Nanami” for using an AI replica of his baritone in over 180 videos. (independent.co.uk)
- Presiding Judge Aya Takahashi described the voice as symbolic of individual personality. (independent.co.uk)
