Kenjiro Tsuda, a celebrated Japanese voice actor known for roles in Jujutsu Kaisen and Golden Kamuy, filed suit against TikTok's parent company for allegedly hijacking his distinct vocal signature using AI without permission. The case centers on an anonymous TikTok account that posted at least 188 narrated videos between July 2024 and November 2025, with the content reportedly generating monthly earnings of ¥500,000 to ¥750,000 (roughly $3,400-$5,100) using narration that captures Tsuda's signature “rich bass voice.” Tsuda's legal team argues the AI-generated mimicry constitutes infringement under Japan's Unfair Competition Prevention Law and the “Publicity Right,” while TikTok contends the narration merely reflects a “generic male voice” potentially trained from a friend's recording, with the first oral argument expected this summer.
