A detail from volume 1 of Naruto by the Japanese artist Masashi Kishimoto. Photograph: StudioB/Alamy
Japanese manga fans are urging Donald Trump to stop using their favorite characters in his social media posts. About 20,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org entitled Protect Japanese Manga, protesting against the official White House X account posting videos featuring unauthorized use of imagery from the popular Dragon Ball, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Naruto series. Angry fans have also been expressing their displeasure on social media.
Petition and Government Response
The petition was first created in March and submitted to the Japanese government, according to its creators, after the White House posted a video that combined footage of US strikes on Iran with anime scenes. Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a request to the US embassy in Japan regarding the unauthorized use of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Nintendo games on the official White House X account, the petition read. The official Yu-Gi-Oh! account on X issued a statement at the time, saying: The original creators and anime staff were not involved in any way, and no permission was given for the use of the intellectual property in question.
Renewed Outrage Over New Image
However, a new image posted on Truth Social over the weekend depicting Trump as the ninja Naruto Uzumaki from the Naruto franchise set fans off again, reviving the petition on Tuesday along with a pledge to redouble lobbying efforts with the Japanese government. A petition was created in March over the White House’s use of images from the popular series such as Dragon Ball. Photograph: AJ Pics/Alamy
We are fans who deeply cherish Japanese manga and anime works, the petition said. It added that fans had very mixed feelings about a video featuring military actions, released on an official US government social media account that incorporated footage from Japanese manga and anime works.
Fan Reactions
A fan going by the name Matsui Qunishige posted on Tuesday: If you respect the creators and those involved and have obtained their permission, I think that’s fine. Otherwise, you’re just showing yourself to be someone who can’t follow the rules and who disregards culture. And that criticism will likely be directed at Americans. They’re the ones who chose him. Another fan, Kei Fukuyosh, said: I truly, from the bottom of my heart, want them to stop. Their sense of ethics is severely lacking. I want the government to speak out against this. Keiichi Motohashi asked: I wonder what the copyright situation is with this? Shouldn’t Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto complain about it?
Copyright and Publisher Stance
Shueisha, which celebrates its centenary this year, is Japan’s biggest publisher and serialized the original Naruto manga from 1999 to 2014. The manga about a young boy training to become a ninja has sold more than 250 million copies worldwide. Kishimoto, whose twin brother, Seishi, is also a manga artist, oversaw the production of three hit Naruto anime films. A spokesperson for Shueisha said the copyright for the anime images used in Trump’s post was held by the film production committee, and that they believed Kishimoto was not commenting on the matter. The Guardian has contacted the White House regarding its response to the petition.
