Kenjiro Tsuda, a Japanese actor known for providing voices in popular anime series such as Jujutsu Kaisen and Yu-Gi-Oh!, is suing TikTok over videos he claims use artificial intelligence to mimic his voice. A verdict is expected on Wednesday. The case has drawn significant attention from the industry and highlights the broader issue of AI-generated vocal cloning. According to the lawsuit, an anonymous TikTok account, whose profile image resembled a character from Jujutsu Kaisen dubbed by Tsuda, posted videos combining animations and a voice seemingly generated by AI. These videos, which featured content related to urban legends, occult phenomena, and conspiracy theories, reportedly attracted up to 210,000 followers and generated between 500,000 and 750,000 yen in monthly revenue. Tsuda claims the account gained popularity due to the use of his voice, which he argues is the result of years of training and is a fundamental part of his identity. TikTok disputes the claim, stating that the voice in question is a "generic male voice" and that the resemblance to Tsuda's voice is subjective. The platform also challenges the idea that the account profited from Tsuda's notoriety, arguing that it merely hosted user-generated content within the bounds of free expression. The Japanese Ministry of Justice issued non-binding guidelines in August 2026, clarifying that a person's voice, as a symbol of identity, may be protected under existing rights. However, experts suggest that the court may find it unlikely that Tsuda's voice will be completely stripped of "image rights." The case is part of a larger debate in Japan regarding the use of AI in the voice acting industry. The Japanese Ministry of Justice published new guidelines in August 2026, explicitly recognizing the voice as an attribute of identity that may be protected. This follows years of mobilization by voice actors, who argue that their voices are not just tools of their profession but also symbols of their identity. The issue has sparked a movement known as NOMORE 無断生成AI, which calls for consent before the use of AI-generated voices. The Japanese Actors' Union, of which Yuko Sasaki is an executive director, supports Tsuda and calls on the courts to recognize the ownership of a voice as a fundamental right. They argue that the voice, like a person's image, should be protected under personality rights. The union has also joined with other organizations to clarify that AI should be used as an auxiliary tool rather than a replacement for human actors in artistic interpretation. The case also raises economic concerns, as the use of AI-generated voices could potentially reduce the need for human voice actors, affecting their future work and compensation. The Japan Actors Union has recommended that contracts should specify the purpose, duration, and compensation for the use of AI-generated voices, ensuring that actors retain control over their digital doubles. The issue is not limited to Japan. In the United States, the SAG-AFTRA union has been at the forefront of mobilizations against the use of AI in the entertainment industry. In France, the #TouchePasMaVF campaign has highlighted concerns about the replacement of human voice actors with synthetic systems. Internationally, the debate centers on the question of who benefits from the automation of human skills and how the gains from such automation should be shared. The case of Kenjiro Tsuda also brings to light concerns about the sexual misuse of AI-generated voices, particularly affecting women. Data from the European Parliament indicates that 99% of people targeted by non-consensual pornographic deepfakes are women. In Japan, while the extent of such misuse is difficult to measure, there have been reports of seiyû voices being used without consent to produce obscene content. The Japanese Ministry of Justice has extended the logic of the 2012 Pink Lady jurisprudence to the voice, recognizing that a person's voice can be a source of commercial attraction and that its unauthorized use can be considered a publicity right. However, no new autonomous offense or automatic fine has been established, and the ministry has opted to apply existing legal mechanisms to address the new possibilities offered by AI. The debate over AI-generated voices is ongoing, with some actors, like Yûki Kaji, participating in the development of synthetic vocal doubles under controlled conditions. The J-VOX-PRO project, announced by the Japan Actors Union, aims to create a framework allowing seiyûs to authorize and control the use of their synthetic voices while being compensated for these uses. The case of Kenjiro Tsuda is one of the first of its kind in Japan and has drawn attention from both the industry and the public. It highlights the complex issues surrounding the use of AI in the entertainment industry and the need for clear legal and ethical guidelines to protect the rights of artists.