In China, Japanese singer Maki Otsuki suddenly left the stage during the “Bandai Namco Festival 2025” in Shanghai on the 28th, as reported by Kyodo News and Sankei Shimbun. The lights went out and music stopped while she was performing the theme song of the anime “One Piece.” It seemed that people associated with the event motioned for Otsuki to leave, leaving her looking flustered and unable to finish her song.
Her agency explained on their website that the performance on the 28th had to be abruptly halted due to unavoidable circumstances, and her appearance on the 29th was canceled as well. Videos of her leaving the stage were shared on Chinese social media, indicating a widespread interest in the incident.
The event, which showcased Japanese anime content, was originally scheduled to run until the 30th. However, it was canceled, affecting the appearances of other Japanese idol groups as well. In Japan, the event’s abrupt cancellation prompted criticism labeling the actions as disrespectful to the performer.
Preceding this, Ayumi Hamasaki’s Shanghai concert on the 29th was called off on the 28th, with the Chinese organizer citing “force majeure” as the reason. Hamasaki expressed her disbelief and dissatisfaction with the sudden cancellation on her social media account.
Other Japanese performers, like the band Yuzu and pianist Hiromi Uehara, also faced cancellations of their Chinese shows. The release of Japanese films and anime series, such as “Cells at Work” and “Crayon Shin-chan,” have also been postponed. Additionally, Yoshimoto Kogyo’s performances and the “Sailor Moon” musical were among the Japanese events halted.
Kyodo News hypothesized that increasing political tensions between China and Japan, particularly following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signaling intervention in a Taiwan contingency, are spilling over into cultural domains.
Cultural journalist Soichiro Matsutani noted that the situation for Japanese entertainment may deteriorate further, drawing parallels to China’s 2016 restrictions on Korean dramas in response to the THAAD missile defense deployment.
Sankei also pointed out that it remains uncertain whether these actions are direct responses from the Chinese government to Takaichi’s statements or if local authorities are overreacting in anticipation of government expectations.
Furthermore, Sankei refuted China’s justification for advising against travel to Japan, citing alleged safety concerns, stating that the rise in criminal incidents involving Chinese nationals lacks evidence. The paper reported that of the serious crimes such as murder, robbery, and arson, only 48 involved Chinese nationals in 2023, compared to 45 the previous year and 28 until October this year. While foreign victimization in Japan is on the rise, the proportion of cases with Chinese victims is gradually decreasing.
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