Global piracy of anime, manga, and video games has surged, with new government data showing the financial impact has nearly tripled in just three years.
The figures come from a report by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, cited by Automaton. According to the data, losses from digital content piracy rose from two trillion yen in 2022 to 5.7 trillion yen in 2025 — equivalent to an increase from about $13.3 billion to roughly $38 billion.
The estimates are based on a 2025 consumer survey across Japan, China, Vietnam, France, the United States, and Brazil.
Although fewer pirated titles are being consumed per person, overall losses have grown due to currency shifts, rising content prices, expanding internet access, and a larger global audience for Japanese media.
The report also highlights the rapid international growth of anime and manga. In late 2025, the Japanese government announced plans to expand its overseas entertainment market by 20 trillion yen by 2033, or around $130 billion.
To combat piracy, METI said it will strengthen cooperation with local authorities, improve legal frameworks, and introduce new measures targeting copyright violations, including those involving generative AI and counterfeit merchandise.
Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs has also committed funding to develop AI systems capable of detecting stolen manga pages and tracking where they are being distributed online.
Despite these efforts, officials acknowledge that enforcement alone is not enough. The government plans to focus on improving international distribution of official content to encourage global audiences to use legitimate platforms instead.