Anime and Manga Lost US$68 Billion in 2025 Because of Online Piracy
The global popularity of Japanese anime and manga has soared in recent years, captivating audiences worldwide.
近年來，日本動漫和漫畫的全球人氣飆升，擄獲了全球觀眾。
However, this immense success has been accompanied by a significant and growing challenge: online piracy.
然而，這項巨大的成功伴隨著一個顯著且日益嚴峻的挑戰：線上盜版。
A recent survey conducted by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), also known as "Nippon," has revealed a staggering estimate.
根據日本經濟產業省（METI），也稱為「Nippon」所進行的最新調查顯示了一個驚人的估計。
The Japanese content industry, which encompasses both anime and manga, is projected to lose approximately US$68 billion (10.4 trillion yen) in 2025 due to online piracy and counterfeit goods.
日本的內容產業，包括動漫和漫畫，預計在2025年因線上盜版和仿冒商品而損失約680億美元（10.4兆日圓）。
This figure represents a dramatic increase in damages compared to the last survey in 2022.
這個數字表示損失相較於2022年的上次調查有顯著增加。
This issue not only harms creators and legitimate businesses but also threatens Japan's cultural export ambitions.
這個問題不僅損害了創作者和合法企業，也威脅到日本的文化輸出抱負。
The METI report provides a detailed breakdown of these estimated losses.
METI報告詳細列出了這些估計損失的細目。
For video content, primarily anime, the losses are anticipated to reach US$15.1 billion (2.3 trillion yen), marking a substantial 150% increase from 2022 figures.
就影音內容而言，主要是動漫，損失預計將達到151億美元（2.3兆日圓），較2022年的數字增加了150%。
The publishing sector, dominated by manga, faces even steeper losses, estimated at US$17 billion (2.6 trillion yen), a remarkable 200% increase over 2022.
以漫畫為主的出版業面臨更嚴峻的損失，估計達170億美元（2.6兆日圓），較2022年增加了驚人的200%。
Furthermore, the survey for the first time examined the impact of bootleg merchandise, which alone is projected to account for US$30.8 billion (4.7 trillion yen) in losses.
此外，這次調查首次檢查了盜版商品的影響，僅此一項就預計造成308億美元（4.7兆日圓）的損失。
These figures paint a grim picture of the economic toll taken by unauthorized distribution and sales.
這些數字描繪了未經授權分銷和銷售所造成的經濟損失的嚴峻情況。
Digital piracy is unequivocally perceived as a major threat that is actively hindering Japan's strategic goal to expand overseas sales of its content to 20 trillion yen by 2033.
數位盜版被毫無疑問地視為一個重大威脅，正積極阻礙日本到2033年將其內容海外銷售擴大至20兆日圓的戰略目標。
The unchecked proliferation of illegal platforms, such as HiAnime, diverts significant revenue away from official streaming services, publishers, and the talented creators who bring these stories to life.
諸如HiAnime等非法平臺的猖獗擴散，使大量收入從官方串流服務、出版商以及賦予這些故事生命的才華創作者手中流失。
These platforms often offer high-quality content without proper licensing, making them attractive to consumers who might otherwise pay for official access.
這些平臺往往提供高品質的內容卻沒有適當的授權，因此對於原本可能會付費獲取官方訪問權的消費者具有吸引力。
Further studies and observations strongly corroborate the severe economic impact of piracy.
進一步的研究和觀察強烈證實盜版對經濟的嚴重影響。
The anti-piracy group ABJ estimated lost revenue from illegal online viewing of Japanese manga and other publications worldwide at around 8.5 trillion yen (approximately US$55 billion) annually.
反盜版團體ABJ估計，日本漫畫及其他出版物在全球遭非法線上觀看所造成的年度損失約為8.5兆日圓（約550億美元）。
This estimate was based on an extensive analysis of 913 websites and 2.8 billion visits in a single month.
這項估計基於對913個網站和單月28億次訪問量的廣泛分析。
Similarly, the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) reported that the anime and manga industries collectively lost between 1.9 to 2.2 trillion yen (US$14.2 to US$16.5 billion) in 2021 alone, a fivefold increase from 2019.
同樣地，海外內容分銷協會（CODA）報告稱，僅2021年動漫和漫畫產業總體損失在1.9兆至2.2兆日圓之間（142億至165億美元），是2019年的五倍。
The shutdown of major manga piracy networks, like Bato.to (which operated approximately 60 related sites), highlighted the scale of the problem.
Bato.to等主要漫畫盜版網路的關閉（該網路營運約60個相關網站）突顯了問題的規模。
These networks recorded a staggering traffic of 7.2 billion visits between October 2022 and October 2025, with an estimated economic impact of around 770 billion yen (US$5.1 to US$5.2 billion).
這些網路在2022年10月至2025年10月間記錄了驚人的72億次流量，估計經濟影響約為7700億日圓（51億至52億美元）。
These illicit sites were sophisticated, distributing Japanese, Chinese, and Korean manga translated into over 50 languages and employing methods like geoblocking to evade detection.
這些非法網站非常複雜，分發翻譯成50多種語言的日本、中國和韓國漫畫，並採用地區封鎖等方法來規避檢測。
The escalating losses are attributed to a confluence of factors.
損失不斷攀升歸因於多種因素。
These include exchange rate fluctuations, rising production costs, a global increase in internet-connected populations, and the ever-growing worldwide popularity of Japanese content.
這些因素包括匯率波動、生產成本上升、全球網際網路連結人口的增加，以及日本內容在全球範圍內不斷增長的人氣。
Ironically, the very success that makes anime and manga so valuable also makes them prime targets for pirated material, as wider access facilitates illegal distribution.
諷刺的是，正是這種使動漫和漫畫如此有價值的成功，也使它們成為盜版材料的主要目標，因為更廣泛的接觸便利了非法分銷。
To actively combat this multifaceted challenge, the Japanese government plans to strengthen cooperation with local authorities in other countries, reinforce litigation systems to pursue legal action more effectively, and expand countermeasures against copyright infringement.
為了積極應對這個多方面的挑戰，日本政府計劃與其他國家的地方當局加強合作，強化訴訟制度以更有效地追究法律責任，並擴大反對侵犯版權的反制措施。
This includes addressing new threats posed by generative AI and the ongoing fight against counterfeit goods.
這包括處理生成式人工智慧帶來的新威脅以及持續打擊仿冒商品。
