According to Japan’s Ministry of Economy, anime piracy has nearly tripled over the past three years.
In 2025 alone, losses reached 5.7 trillion yen, about $36.9 billion. When character merchandise piracy is included, total damages rise to 10.4 trillion yen, or roughly $67.4 billion.
The survey collected data from users in countries like Japan, China, the United States, France, Brazil, and Vietnam. Major areas affected include anime and video content, manga and books, video games, music, and character merchandise.
METI says it will continue fighting piracy through stronger legal action and cooperation with other countries.
At the same time, the government admits that piracy will not disappear as long as demand exists.
Because of this, Japan plans to focus more on expanding legal global streaming and distribution platforms to guide fans toward official ways of enjoying anime and games.