The United States has included the Director of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Akane, in its sanctions list. This move is seen as controversial as it indicates growing tension between the US and several global institutions. Details of the specific punitive measures or reasons behind the decision have not been publicly disclosed. Observers anticipate widespread reverberations within international justice systems and predict potentially strained US-Japan relations.

Japan, being a signatory to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, views cooperation with the ICC as vital to global justice. The general public respects the ICC's role in prosecuting the most severe international crimes. Any sanctions against ICC officials, especially by a significant external power like the US, can cause considerable concern and elicit a defensive response within the political and legal spheres in Japan.

Unlike Japan, the United States has not ratified the Rome Statute, showing a historical reluctance to endorse the ICC's jurisdiction over its citizens. In the EU, member states broadly support the ICC's mandate, often protesting against sanctions or other actions that can undermine the court's authority and independence.