In brief
Recent Japanese music events in Shanghai were abruptly cancelled amid growing tensions between China and Japan over diplomatic issues. The situation came to a head when Maki Otsuki's performance was stopped mid-show during the theme song of 'One Piece', leading to backlash from fans who found the cancellations extreme and rude. Other concerts, including Ayumi Hamasaki's, were also affected, highlighting the ongoing cultural and diplomatic conflict between the two nations.
The abrupt cancellations of several Japanese music events in Shanghai - one of them midway through a song - have sparked criticism among fans, with some calling the moves 'rude' and 'extreme'. Maki Otsuki was halfway through the theme of hit anime One Piece on Friday when the lights and music went off, after which she was rushed off stage by two crew members. On Saturday, pop star Ayumi Hamasaki performed to an empty 14,000-seat stadium after organisers axed her concert in Shanghai, citing 'force majeure'. This spate of cancellations comes as diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo fester over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan. Takaichi, known to be a vocal critic of China and its activities in the region, suggested last month that Tokyo could take military action if Beijing attacked Taiwan. As both sides lodged protests against each other, the rift has affected daily living in both countries.Otsuki's management attributed the interruption of her performance on Friday to 'unavoidable circumstances'. 'Other than the performance being cancelled, there were no particular problems, and the local staff were very kind and helpful,' it said. Her performance was part of a three-day music festival in Shanghai, which also saw subsequent events called off. Meanwhile, some of Otsuki's fans made a meme comparing the shutting down of her performance to the shocking removal of China's former leader Hu Jintao during a Communist Party meeting in October 2022. This meme went viral over the weekend, with some saying Ms Otsuki was given 'the Hu Jintao treatment'. On social media, others accused the Chinese authorities of limiting their own people's freedom to enjoy culture as a way to sanction Japan. However, the incident also ignited nationalist sentiments in China, with some questioning why the event happened at all given the diplomatic row.Despite the backlash, Hamasaki performed to empty seats as a gesture of appreciation for her crew and fans, stating, 'I still strongly believe that entertainment should be a bridge that connects people.' Two weeks prior, Chinese state media announced that two popular Japanese anime films' releases would be postponed due to the diplomatic row.
