A prominent Japanese voice actor, known for roles like Kento Nanami in Jujutsu Kaisen, filed a lawsuit in Tokyo District Court alleging unauthorized AI-generated voice clones used to narrate nearly 188 videos without his permission.

Beyond Tsuda, the broader concern is that AI voice synthesis could undermine actors’ rights and raise privacy issues across entertainment.

TikTok argues that the narration uses a distinct AI voice trained to imitate a friend’s voice, not Tsuda’s, claiming there was no likelihood of confusion or violation of publicity rights.

Tsuda’s side contends the videos infringe his publicity rights by leveraging his public identity and recognizable voice, while the defense argues there is no copyright violation and that the voice could be seen as a generic male voice.

At least 188 AI-generated videos allegedly replicated Tsuda’s voice to attract views, raising monetization concerns tied to cloned vocals.

The case is viewed as one of Japan’s first major tests of unauthorised AI voice cloning, with potential to set precedent for voice similarity and AI usage in entertainment.

The lawsuit, initiated in November 2025, targets TikTok and centers on AI voices that imitate Tsuda’s distinctive deep, husky cadence used across videos from July 2024 to November 2025.

Industry reaction within anime communities is divided: supporters press for stronger protections against AI cloning, while critics worry about potential limits on creativity and broader IP implications.

The case sits within a thread of cautionary industry commentary on AI voice cloning, with notable voices like Yuki Kaji criticizing the technology’s safety and privacy risks.

Reports estimate the clone-driven channel earned monthly revenue in the range of hundreds of thousands of yen, highlighting the financial incentives behind cloned-voice content.

Some estimates convert monthly earnings to a few thousand dollars, underscoring the monetization scale of AI-generated clones.

Tsuda seeks removal of all 188 videos and protection under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act and the right of publicity.