Tokyo Court Grants Legal Protection to Human Voice in Landmark Decision

TOKYO — In a significant ruling, a court in Tokyo has officially recognized the legal protection of the human voice, stemming from a case initiated by a renowned Japanese anime voice actor. The actor contested the unauthorized use of an AI-generated clone of his distinctive deep voice on TikTok.

The decision by the Tokyo District Court represents Japan’s first judicial acknowledgment of the right to one’s voice. This ruling brings relief to many voice actors within the anime industry, who have been increasingly worried about AI recreating their voices across social media platforms.

The plaintiff, Kenjiro Tsuda, is celebrated for his compelling performances, particularly known for roles like Kento Nanami in the widely popular anime series “Jujutsu Kaisen.”

In his legal complaint, Tsuda claimed that the unknown individual operating the TikTok account “Nanami” was mistakenly profiting by using his voice to narrate over 180 videos focused on urban legends and paranormal stories, leading him to request that the materials be removed.

Judge Aya Takahashi commented, “The human voice is symbolic of individual personality, just like one’s portrait,” as cited in a court document reviewed by The Associated Press. The judge reasoned that utilizing Tsuda’s voice without permission, particularly with the intent of exploiting its commercial value, constitutes a violation of his publicity rights.

By November 2025, the TikTok account in question boasted over 200,000 subscribers, with many viewers remarking on the striking resemblance between the narrator’s voice and Tsuda’s.

The defendant contended that while the videos featured an AI-generated voice that bore a resemblance to Tsuda’s, it was not an exact match and insisted that the content did not tarnish his reputation as a voice actor.

Ultimately, the court declined Tsuda’s request for the deletion of all videos utilizing his voice, noting that the account had already been shut down.

This ruling arrives as Japanese voice actors are increasingly anxious about the ramifications of AI emulating their unique voices in the anime sphere.

In a similar vein, OpenAI decided to discontinue one of its ChatGPT voices in 2024 after Scarlett Johansson expressed discomfort, stating it sounded too similar to her own. Moreover, Oscar winners Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey have recently entered into agreements with ElevenLabs to permit the replication of their voices using AI technology.