A Japanese singer was forced to stop performing on stage in Shanghai over the weekend, triggering accusations of excessive restriction amid the downward spiral in tensions between Beijing and Tokyo over a Taiwan contingency.
On Saturday, Japanese singer Maki Otsuki was abruptly silenced while singing at an anime event in Shanghai and told by staff to halt her performance.
Otsuki, known for singing the theme song of the popular anime One Piece, has “returned home safely”, according to a statement published on Monday on her office’s website.
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Why have Takaichi’s Taiwan comments sent China-Japan ties into a tailspin?
Why have Takaichi’s Taiwan comments sent China-Japan ties into a tailspin?
“Apart from the cancellation itself, there were no particular issues, and we were kindly assisted by the local staff,” the statement said.
On Saturday, organisers of the Bandai Namco Festival 2025 announced on the Weibo social media platform that the event, originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, would be cancelled “after considering various factors”.
It was cancelled as Japan and China are embroiled in a diplomatic stand-off, which has significantly affected cultural exchanges, over comments Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made last month about a hypothetical conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
Video footage of Otsuki being silenced on stage and ordered to leave has circulated widely on Chinese social media, sparking criticism of local authorities for imposing excessive restrictions on Japanese performers.
