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This petition was featured on the BBC news and AFP news.
BBC
"Growing backlash in Japan over Trump's use of anime characters"

AFP
”Online petition launched in Japan protests Trump's use of Japanese anime footage.”

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Updated 2026-06-09
Regarding the unauthorized use of Japanese anime footage, such as Yu-Gi-Oh!, in a military context on the official White House X account,
In March 2026, we approached several members of parliament and requested their acceptance of this petition and their solidarity.
As a result, we received a response stating that "official action is possible if the rights holders wish to do so."

We also submitted this petition to the Cabinet Office, which shared it with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a request to the U.S. Embassy in Japan regarding the unauthorized use of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Nintendo games on the official White House X account.

However, on June 9, 2026, a Naruto-style video was posted on President Trump's official social media.
Therefore, we are reopening this petition as an **urgent** effort to convey our protest and concern regarding this matter to the **rights holders** and to work in solidarity to lobby the Japanese government.
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We are fans who deeply cherish Japanese manga and anime works.

We saw reports that a video posted on an official U.S. government social media account included expressions featuring Japanese anime works, and we have very mixed feelings about its content. A video featuring military actions, released on an official U.S. government social media account, incorporated footage from Japanese manga and anime works, including scenes from iconic titles such as Dragon Ball and Yu-Gi-Oh!.

Reference:
“White House posts Iran-strike propaganda video referencing Marvel, Top Gun, Yu-Gi-Oh! and others — Ben Stiller says ‘I did not authorize this.’”
https://theriver.jp/white-house-popculture-propaganda/

The official Twitter account for the anime "Yu-Gi-Oh!" has issued a statement regarding a video posted on the official White House Twitter account, stating that "the original creators and anime staff were not involved in any way, and no permission was given for the use of the intellectual property in question."
https://x.com/yugioh_anime/status/2031535577913254032?s=20

Furthermore, President Trump has caused controversy by posting a video on social media in which he portrays himself as Naruto.
Reference: "Trump sparks controversy with Naruto video; netizens say 'Don't use it'"
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/pickup/6583518

For many years, these works have inspired audiences around the world by conveying values such as courage, friendship, and perseverance. Because of this, many fans feel concerned when images from these works appear to be used in political or military contexts that may differ from the intentions of the original creators or rights holders.

These concerns are not limited to Japan. Fans in international communities have also expressed the view that the context of these works and the intentions of their creators should be respected.

Kazuki Takahashi, the creator of Yu-Gi-Oh!, lost his life while attempting to save others at sea. Many fans deeply respect both his character and his work.
Similarly, a staff connected to the world of Dragon Ball and its creator Akira Toriyama have at times expressed reflections on peace through satire and storytelling.

We sincerely hope that the values and messages cherished by these creators and their works will continue to be respected.

With this in mind, we respectfully ask companies and cultural organizations that support Japanese manga and anime culture to consider the following:

• To confirm the factual circumstances surrounding the reported use of these images where appropriate.
• If there is a possibility that the rights of the works or the intentions of their creators have been compromised, to consider appropriate responses or shared understandings among relevant rights holders.
• To ensure that the value and dignity of Japan's world-renowned manga and anime culture are respected, formulate external communications and guidelines from the perspective of cultural diplomacy and the protection of the Japanese cultural brand.

This petition is not intended to criticize or condemn any particular country or organization.
This petition is not intended to deny or criticize fan-created derivative works or individual creative expression, but expresses concern about the possibility that footage or imagery from official works may be used in political or military contexts in ways that differ from the intentions of the rights holders or creators.

This petition seeks to convey the voices of fans who, precisely because Japanese manga and anime are so widely loved around the world, hope that their cultural value and context will be respected.

Manga and anime are among the cultural treasures Japan has shared with the world, bringing hope and inspiration to countless people. We hold deep appreciation and respect for the publishers, animation studios, creators, and cultural institutions that have supported and developed this culture over many years.

We understand that this issue may involve complex international contexts. Even so, we wanted to express our support for those who continue to protect and nurture manga and anime culture by sharing our voices through this petition.

We sincerely hope that respect for the works and their creators, as well as pride in Japan’s manga culture, will continue to be cherished around the world.

If you feel the same way, we would be grateful if you could share this with others as an opportunity to reflect on this issue together.