Anime and manga, like other forms of entertainment, have been increasingly targeted by illegal piracy websites. In response, Japan has been actively working to shut down these sites. Recently, Japan’s Content Overseas Distribution Association announced it has taken action against another major pirate website – one of the largest on the internet – that was illegally sharing anime, manga, and manhwa.
Japan has arrested the person running the website Bato.to, as well as those behind sixty other illegal anime and manga sites, according to CODA. Although the operator was quickly released on bail, CODA anticipates formal charges will be filed soon. Piracy cost the anime industry an estimated $38 billion in 2025, a significant jump from the $13 billion lost in 2022. This dramatic increase highlights the growing popularity of anime and suggests that Japan and other nations will likely increase their efforts to shut down piracy websites.
Japan Vs. Anime Pirates
On November 19, 2025, Chinese authorities searched the home of a man in the Guangxi region suspected of running a large-scale manga piracy operation. The man is accused of operating BATO.TO – the world’s biggest illegal manga website – along with around 60 related sites like xbato.com and mangapark.io. He allegedly translated and distributed Japanese manga in over 50 languages, including English, without permission from the copyright owners. After being questioned, the man was released on bail, but admitted to running all the websites and is likely to face formal charges soon.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities having already taken possession of the suspect’s computers and examining server data, how the websites were run, and who was involved. CODA has determined that people running the sites, and those sharing content on social media, are located in multiple countries, so they’re working with international partners to continue the investigation. While the websites briefly remained online after the suspect was arrested to preserve evidence, those involved later announced they were shutting down. By January 19th, all 60 sites had been confirmed as closed.
Recent data shows that anime piracy is a massive problem, with illegal websites actually attracting more viewers than popular streaming services like Crunchyroll and Disney+. This may be surprising to many anime fans.
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Via CODA
https://comicbook.com/anime/news/anime-piracy-animefenix-shutting-down/embed/#
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2026-01-31 23:41