Japan Deploys AI to Combat Costly Manga and Anime Piracy

A new pilot program aims to address billions in annual losses by using AI to detect and report pirated content online.

The Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs has allocated ¥300 million ($2 million) to develop AI technology to detect pirated manga and anime online.
The AI system will use image and text recognition to identify unlicensed content and streamline takedown requests for rights holders.
Officials estimate that piracy costs Japan's manga and anime industries ¥2 trillion ($13.4 billion) annually, with 70% of pirate sites operating in foreign languages.
Inspired by South Korea's anti-piracy efforts, the pilot program could eventually expand to target other media like films and music if successful.
The initiative aligns with Japan's broader 'Cool Japan' strategy, which aims to boost cultural exports to ¥20 trillion ($130 billion) by 2033.