Japan’s government is intensifying its criticism of OpenAI, formally requesting the company halt the use of Japanese manga and anime artwork in its AI systems. The move comes amid growing backlash over the company’s AI video generator, Sora, which launched to widespread public attention but quickly became a source of controversy due to AI-generated content that mimicked iconic Japanese art styles. Minoru Kiuchi, a senior government official with multiple roles including oversight of intellectual property strategy and the “cool Japan strategy,” publicly rebuked OpenAI last week. He described manga and anime as “irreplaceable treasures” of Japanese culture and said the Cabinet Office has formally asked OpenAI to cease what it views as copyright infringement. The request marks a significant escalation in the ongoing global debate over AI training data and intellectual property. OpenAI’s Sora, designed to generate realistic video from text prompts, has been flooded with user-created content that closely resembles well-known anime and manga aesthetics—often without consent or compensation to the original creators. This follows OpenAI’s controversial opt-out policy for copyright holders, which was ultimately scrapped after widespread criticism. The policy had allowed creators to request removal of their work from training datasets, but many argued it was ineffective and poorly implemented. Japanese artists and studios have been particularly vocal, citing the proliferation of AI-generated images that mimic the distinctive styles of Studio Ghibli, other major studios, and individual creators. CEO Sam Altman has acknowledged the profound influence of Japanese creativity on OpenAI’s work, calling it a “remarkable creative output,” but has yet to offer a concrete resolution to the concerns. As pressure mounts from governments, creators, and the public, OpenAI faces mounting scrutiny over how it sources and uses cultural content in its AI models—especially in a country where manga and anime are central to national identity and global influence.