Kenjiro Tsuda Sues TikTok Parent Company Over Alleged AI Voice Imitation
Japanese voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda has taken legal action against TikTok’s parent company, claiming that his unmistakable voice was copied with artificial intelligence and used without his permission.
Tsuda is one of Japan’s most recognizable voice talents, known for roles such as Kento Nanami in Jujutsu Kaisen and Hyakunosuke Ogata in Golden Kamuy. His deep, smooth, and instantly identifiable vocal style has helped make him a standout figure in anime, games, narration, and entertainment. Now, that same signature voice is at the center of a growing legal battle over AI-generated content and celebrity rights.
According to the complaint, an anonymous TikTok account uploaded at least 188 narrated videos between July 2024 and November 2025. Tsuda’s legal team alleges that the narration in those videos closely resembles his famous “rich bass voice,” including its low, mellow tone and distinctive delivery.
The account reportedly earned between ¥500,000 and ¥750,000 per month, roughly $3,400 to $5,100, from the videos. Tsuda’s side argues that this was not simply a harmless imitation, but a commercial use of a voice so similar to his that viewers could be misled into believing he was involved.
The lawsuit relies on Japan’s Unfair Competition Prevention Law as well as the concept of publicity rights, which can protect public figures from unauthorized commercial use of their identity, image, or recognizable traits. In this case, the key question is whether a celebrity’s voice, especially one as distinctive as Tsuda’s, can be protected from AI cloning or imitation.
TikTok’s side has denied wrongdoing, arguing that the narration sounds like a generic male voice rather than Tsuda specifically. The defense also suggests that the voice may have been based on a recording from someone known to the uploader, rather than on Tsuda’s own voice. They further claim that audience reactions were focused more on the videos themselves than on identifying the narrator as Tsuda.
Tsuda’s attorney, Kei Hiranobu, has warned that unchecked AI voice generation could have serious consequences for the voice acting industry. If performers cannot control how their voices are copied, recreated, or monetized, it could undermine the value of their work and weaken protections for artists across the entertainment world.
So far, several closed-door sessions have been held to clarify the central issues in the dispute. The first public oral argument is expected to take place this summer.
The case is drawing attention because it touches on one of the biggest questions in modern entertainment: who owns a voice in the age of AI? As generative tools become more advanced, they can now reproduce speech patterns, tone, pacing, and emotion with alarming accuracy. For voice actors, singers, narrators, and other performers, that raises urgent concerns about consent, compensation, and creative ownership.
Tsuda’s lawsuit could become an important test case for how Japanese courts handle AI-generated voice imitation. A ruling in his favor may give other performers stronger grounds to challenge unauthorized AI replicas of their voices. A ruling against him, however, could make it harder for celebrities and professional voice actors to protect one of their most valuable assets.
For fans, the debate is about more than technology. Kenjiro Tsuda’s voice is not just a sound; it is part of his artistic identity. Whether the court agrees that the TikTok narration crossed a legal line remains to be seen, but the outcome could help define the future of AI, voice acting, and digital personality rights.
