Pokemon, Naruto, Mario IPs Damaged By US Government, Japanese Officials Warn

Published Aug 6, 2026, 7:08 AM EDT James Lucas is an Executive Editor at TheGamer who has worked in professional journalism since 2018. A Newcastle University graduate with a degree in Journalism, Media, and Culture, they have written hundreds of guides, news stories, and original reports, with bylines in IGN, NME, GaymingMag, and VG247, sourcing interviews with studio heads, legendary industry figures, prominent actors, and more. An expert on FPS games, Soulslikes, RPGs, and survival horror, James has intimate knowledge of a wide variety of titles, providing in-depth coverage and exclusive profiles. Some of the games they have extensively covered include: Half-Life 3, Counter-Strike, Elden Ring, and Fallout. They pride themselves on their consistently thorough research, leveraging nearly a decade of industry experience. You can reach them at James.t@thegamer.com Official US government social media accounts, including The White House itself, have drawn immense backlash for posting memes and AI videos incorporating popular music and IP to glorify war and even ICE raids since Trump took office again in 2024. Artists like Sabrina Carpenter and actors such as Steve Downes, who voices Master Chief in the Halo series, are among the many who have called out the current administration. And now, even Japanese officials are taking notice. As reported by IGN, since March earlier this year, the Japanese government has spoken out against the US for the unauthorized use of some of its most iconic IP, such as Pokemon, Mario, and Naruto. This was, in part, spurred on by the increased pressure from the Japanese public, who have started several petitions to raise awareness on how these franchises are being twisted to further a political goal. "Inappropriate Even For Public Institutions" Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi stated in a parliamentary session in April that “it’s inappropriate even for public institutions to reproduce copyrighted material without the rightholders’ consent,” highlighting a pro-war video that utilized Wii Sports. Now, according to a new report by major Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun, the Japanese Ministry has called on the Trump administration through the US embassy to cease its use of Naruto, Pokémon, and Mario at least twice in June. The report alleges that Japanese officials urged the US administration to consider the damage these videos and memes are causing its IPs when using them without permission. For instance, The White House used Pokopia's font to say "Make America Great Again," the Department of Homeland Security posted a video of ICE raid footage with the Pokémon theme song playing, and President Trump even shared an AI-generated video of himself as Naruto on Truth Social, reigniting the “Protect Japanese Manga” petition that received international coverage earlier this year. Cabinet Minister Kimi Onoda responded to the Naruto clip in a press conference back in June: “Obtaining permission from the copyright holder is the underlying principle for fair use.” Officials stressed this message to the US government through diplomatic channels, but it appears to have had little impact. Created by Satoshi Tajiri First Film Pokemon: The First Movie Latest Film Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle First TV Show Pokémon First Episode Air Date April 1, 1997 Video Game(s) Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Pokemon Legends Arceus, Pokemon Sword and Shield, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Pokemon Sun and Moon, Pokemon Black and White, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, Pokémon GO, Pokemon Snap, Pokémon Unite, New Pokémon Snap, Pokémon Masters EX, Pokemon TCG Live