🇯🇵❌ Anime Concerts Axed Amid Diplomatic Row Over Taiwan
A cascade of Japanese cultural events in China has been scrapped this week after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made controversial remarks about the Taiwan region. The cancellations come during peak holiday event season, leaving fans of Japanese pop culture reeling.
Bandai Namco abruptly shut down its Shanghai festival 48 hours before opening, with workers dismantling Gundam-themed installations as confused attendees arrived. 'We saw security turning people away at the gates,' local cosplayer Li Wei told us via DM. 'It's disappointing, but we get why it happened.'
Major casualties include:
🎤 Sold-out concerts by J-pop queen Ayumi Hamasaki
🎹 Hiromi Uehara's jazz piano tour
🌙 The Sailor Moon musical's Beijing debut
While no official statements cite the Taiwan comments as cause, the timing aligns with Beijing's firm stance on territorial sovereignty. A Weibo poll shows 62% of respondents support the cancellations as 'necessary national dignity protection.'
🎮 Gaming streamer Zhang Yixing summed up youth sentiment: 'Love the culture, respect the politics. Hope this cools down soon – my Demon Slayer fan group is in mourning.'
