# Japan has reportedly asked the US to stop using Mario, Pokemon, and others in social media posts

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/japan-has-reportedly-asked-the-us-to-stop-using-mario-pokemon-and-others-in-social-media-posts/
- Published: 2026-08-07T18:25:32+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-24T22:45:19+00:00
- Original publisher: PC Gamer
- Original article: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/japan-has-reportedly-asked-the-us-to-stop-using-mario-pokemon-and-others-in-social-media-posts/
- Topics: Americas, Asia, Entertainment, Gaming

## Key points

- Japan reportedly asked the US to stop using its characters in posts
- Mario, Pokémon and others allegedly used in US social media content
- Concerns cited over unauthorised use and reputational damage

## Summary

The Japanese government has reportedly asked US officials to stop using characters from Nintendo and other Japanese franchises, including Mario and Pokémon, in official social media posts. The request follows a string of posts by US government accounts, notably around immigration enforcement, that used popular Japanese game and animation characters in memes, prompting concern in Tokyo about unauthorised use of its intellectual property and the reputational association with divisive political messaging.

Japanese authorities are said to view the imagery as being used without permission and in contexts that could damage the standing of beloved characters and the companies behind them, such as Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The report highlights growing friction between Japan's cultural exports and their appropriation by foreign government bodies for unrelated political communications, an issue Tokyo is understood to be raising through diplomatic channels rather than legal action.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.