Rising diplomatic friction between China and Japan, intensified after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hinted at potential involvement in a Taiwan contingency, is now rippling through the entertainment industry.
According to Hong Kong’s Sing Tao Daily and China News Service on November 19, Chinese music platform QQ Music abruptly cancelled Japanese boy group JO1’s fan meeting scheduled for November 17 in Guangzhou, citing “force majeure.” All accompanying VIP events were also scrapped.
JO1, an 11-member group formed through 'Produce 101 Japan,' maintains a solid fanbase in China. Industry observers widely interpret the cancellation as a direct consequence of the escalating diplomatic dispute between Beijing and Tokyo.
A reverse backlash is emerging in Japan. After news broke that girl group aespa is expected to perform on NHK’s year-end special 'Kōhaku Uta Gassen,' a petition was launched demanding that aespa’s Chinese member Ningning be barred from appearing.
The controversy has reignited criticism over a 2022 incident in which Ningning posted a photo featuring mushroom-cloud-shaped stage lights on social media, an image that sparked outrage among some Japanese users at the time. As of November 18, the petition had gained over 50,000 signatures.
Local media reports that “aespa has become one of the biggest cultural casualties of the China-Japan diplomatic rift,” adding that the group’s participation in the December 31 program may become a symbolic indicator of the future relationship between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Japanese entertainers active in China are taking unusual steps to voice support for Beijing. Japanese singer Meiriya, who has appeared on Chinese variety shows, wrote on Weibo that “China is my second home” and declared her “eternal support for One China.” Actor Yano Koji, known for portraying a Japanese army officer in Chinese dramas, also expressed allegiance, stating that China “redefined what home means to me.”
China has recently intensified pressure on Japan across sectors such as tourism, education, and culture. Measures include halting Japan-bound travel packages, cancelling university exchange programs, and delaying the release of Japanese animated films, including the latest installment of 'Crayon Shin-chan,' a move widely viewed as retaliatory.
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