Voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda files lawsuit against TikTok operator over AI-generated voice use

Tsuda filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court last November claiming at least 188 videos featuring narrations with voice characteristics resembling his were posted by one TikTok account between July 2024 and September 2025, generating monthly revenue of between ¥500,000 and ¥750,000. This is believed to be Japan's first such case against unauthorized use of a celebrity's voice created by generative AI.

Tsuda's legal team argued the narrations were intentionally generated using AI to imitate his distinctive deep and mellow voice and violated his publicity right (the legal right to control commercial use of one's name and image). TikTok countered that the narrations were a generic male voice and not particularly distinctive.

The Justice Ministry set up an expert panel in April to clarify procedures for making civil claims for damages regarding unauthorized use of actors' and singers' voices created by generative AI.