Cultural Events in Shanghai Disrupted Amid Japan-China Tensions

Sat Dec 20 2025 10:44:36 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Recent cancellations of Japanese concerts in Shanghai over escalating political issues between Japan and China have sparked backlash from fans and critics alike.

The abrupt halt of several concerts by Japanese artists in Shanghai, particularly the incident involving 'One Piece' singer Maki Otsuki, has raised concerns over cultural freedom amid growing diplomatic tensions between China and Japan. Concerts were either cut short or performed to empty stadiums as both countries express their strained relations over comments related to Taiwan.

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. Beijing views self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to reunite with it.

Both sides have since lodged protests against each other, and the rift has also 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 wrote in a separate statement on Monday, in which it declined interviews on the matter.

Her performance was part of a three-day music festival in Shanghai, for which subsequent events were also called off after comprehensively taking into consideration various factors, according to Japan's Kyodo News.

Some fans have created memes 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 gained traction over the weekend, with many referencing Ms Otsuki's Hu Jintao treatment.

Critics on social media accused Chinese authorities of depriving their citizens of cultural enjoyment in their attempts to sanction Japan. Don't you care about the audience - they are after all Chinese, right? wrote a user on China’s social media platform Weibo.

George Glass, the United States' ambassador to Japan, joined the conversation online, stating, It's truly regrettable that there are people who can't feel the power of music. He shared a link to Journey's Don't Stop Believin' and encouraged Otsuki to hold onto her convictions.

Meanwhile, the issue has also sparked nationalistic sentiments in China, with some questioning why these events were held during a time of heightened tensions. Hamasaki, who was in Shanghai as part of her Asia tour, announced her concert cancellation just before it was set to begin but still chose to perform for an empty audience, expressing her commitment to fostering cultural connections.

Two weeks prior, Chinese state media announced the postponement of releases for at least two popular Japanese anime films amid ongoing diplomatic conflict. The situation remains tense as both nations navigate their fraught relationship.