Petition against Trump’s “Manga-Style Posts” gains 20,000 signatures in Japan
A petition in Japan opposing the use of manga and anime characters in political content linked to U.S. President Donald Trump has gathered around 20,000 signatures, according to organizers.
The controversy intensified after a video shared on Truth Social showed Trump depicted in a style resembling Naruto Uzumaki, a character from the popular Japanese series Naruto. The clip sparked strong reactions among fans who argued that such imagery should not be used in political messaging.
Concerns over the issue had already emerged earlier in the year, following similar online posts from the White House that combined real-world military footage with visuals inspired by well-known anime and manga franchises.
The petition, first launched in March and recently revived, calls attention to what organizers describe as inappropriate use of copyrighted cultural works. Supporters argue that manga and anime are global cultural exports that represent values such as friendship, perseverance, and courage, and should not be associated with political or military messaging without permission from creators or rights holders.
The campaign highlights ongoing tensions between global political communication strategies and the protection of cultural intellectual property in Japan’s entertainment industry.
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