Japan Asks US Government To Stop Using Mario, Pokémon, Naruto In Memes

Japan has told Washington, more than once, to knock it off with the anime and Nintendo memes. Japanese officials have repeatedly asked the Trump administration to stop using characters from franchises such as Mario, Pokemon, and Naruto in unauthorized government memes and pro-war videos, warning that the posts could damage the intellectual property.

What Japan is actually asking for

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted the US Embassy in Japan in April and June of this year to express concerns over online posts made by official US Government accounts, urging the Trump administration against using copyrighted IP like Mario, Pokemon, and Naruto without the consent of their creators.

The ministry's position is that it is inappropriate even for public institutions to reproduce copyrighted materials without the rightsholders' consent. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi raised the issue in a parliamentary session in April, referencing a pro-war video that used Nintendo's Wii Sports.

The posts in question

In March, the official White House account piggybacked on the release of Pokemon Pokopia by posting Donald Trump's campaign slogan over the game's logo and key art. Another March post featured footage of the US military bombing Iran alongside clips, graphics, and sound effects from Wii Sports.

Renewed backlash was triggered in June, when President Trump shared an AI-generated video depicting himself as Naruto on Truth Social. Last September, the Department of Homeland Security posted footage of an ICE raid accompanied by the Pokémon theme song and imagery associated with Ash Ketchum, and The Pokémon Company later said permission had never been granted.

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Why this matters for markets

The dispute is a copyright and diplomatic story first, but it also sits on top of some of the most valuable IP portfolios in gaming and entertainment. Nintendo, The Pokémon Company (partly owned by Nintendo) and Naruto rights-holder Shueisha have built businesses on strict IP control, and unauthorized political use cuts against that model.

Absent bigger companies with Nintendo's level of resources and clout mustering the legal gumption to act, the meme posting is likely to continue. That leaves brand-perception risk hanging over the affected franchises without an obvious near-term catalyst for a resolution.

Public pressure is building

Self-proclaimed manga and anime fan Nana Suzuki kicked off the Protect Japanese Manga petition on Change.org, which has received international news coverage, and the organizer says they submitted the petition to the Japanese Cabinet Office in March while alerting Japanese politicians to the US government's unauthorized use of Japanese IPs.

Official US government social media accounts, including the White House itself, have drawn backlash for posting memes and AI videos incorporating popular music and IP, and artists like Sabrina Carpenter and actors such as Steve Downes, who voices Master Chief in Halo, are among those who have called out the administration.

Options market and stocks to watch

Traders looking for exposure tied to this IP story have a few names to keep on the radar:

• NTDOY: Nintendo's US-listed ADR is the most direct read on Mario and, indirectly via The Pokémon Company, on Pokémon brand risk. Watch for any formal legal escalation.
• SONY: Sony's anime and music holdings, including Crunchyroll and Aniplex, give it broad Japanese IP exposure if the debate widens.
• DIS: Disney is a useful benchmark for how aggressively big IP owners police political misuse of characters.
• WBD: Warner Bros. Discovery holds significant animation and franchise IP and is another comp for enforcement posture.

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