Japan suffers $38 billion loss over anime piracy

Piracy of anime, manga, and games has surged worldwide, with new government data showing the estimated damage has nearly tripled in just three years.

The findings were highlighted by Automaton, which cited a new report from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

According to the data, losses caused by piracy of digital content rose from two trillion yen in 2022 to 5.7 trillion yen in 2025, increasing from roughly $13.3 billion to around $38 billion USD.

The figures are based on a 2025 consumer survey conducted across Japan, China, Vietnam, France, the United States, and Brazil.

Anime & manga piracy caused $38 billion in losses

While the number of pirated books consumed per person has declined, the survey says overall damage has increased due to exchange rate fluctuations, rising prices, an increase in internet-connected populations, and an increase in users accessing pirated content.

The report also points to the accelerating global spread of Japanese content, with anime and manga becoming increasingly popular. Back in November 2025, the Japanese government said it aims to supercharge Japan’s entertainment market overseas by expanding it by 20 trillion yen by 2033 (around $130 billion USD).

To help clamp down on pirated content, the report mentions that the METI will strengthen cooperation with local authorities, reinforce litigation systems, and expand countermeasures targeting copyright infringement involving generative AI and counterfeit character goods.

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This news comes hot off the back of an announcement from Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, which has allocated $650k USD to build an AI system capable of spotting stolen manga pages and identifying where they are being distributed.

Despite the latest crackdowns on piracy, the report mentions that enforcement alone will not solve the problem. However, METI plans to support the international distribution of Japanese content, with the aim of guiding global audiences toward official releases instead.

After all, we’ve already seen an increase in Japanese releases in the West, particularly in cinemas where films like Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc have become box office hits.