The fallout from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi‘s recent comments about China is continuing to spread, now impacting the entertainment world. Beyond canceled shows in China, performances in Japan—particularly those inspired by anime—are now facing the risk of becoming platforms for political and prejudiced statements from audience members.
During a live performance by the band BanG Dream, someone shouted an offensive remark directed at Japan’s new prime minister. A video of the incident quickly spread online, particularly on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
During Ave Mujica’s sixth concert in Tokyo, Japan on December 14th, a member of the audience yelled an offensive phrase in Chinese directed at Sanae Takaichi. Takaaki Kidani, CEO of Bushiroad, responded to a video of the incident on X (formerly Twitter), announcing that the company would hold an emergency meeting to discuss it.
Xenophobic Outburst at Ave Mujica Show Sparks Emergency Response from CEO
Kidani removed his original comment on X because of its controversial content and the person who posted it. While the comment itself is gone, replies to it are still visible. Please be aware that the linked content contains racially offensive comments directed at Chinese and Japanese people.
Kidani responded to the feedback by stating that someone’s nationality isn’t relevant to disruptive behavior. He emphasized that they will not accept anyone who negatively impacts the positive environment for both performers and audience members.
We’re talking to everyone involved and looking at ways to address the situation. Thank you for your patience. I truly hope for a more peaceful world, and I believe entertainment can contribute to that goal, even in a small way.
Currently, the Ave Mujica members and the Bang Dream franchise have yet to comment on the incident.
Anime Industry on Edge Amid China-Japan Political Spat
The anime series Bang Dream! isn’t the only Japanese franchise facing problems after a Japanese politician, Takaichi, threatened consequences if China attacked Taiwan. As a result, many planned performances in China have been canceled. For example, singer Maki Otsuki, famous for the One Piece ending theme “Memories,” was stopped during her performance at the Bandai Namco Fest in Shanghai.
The highly anticipated event was unfortunately cancelled due to unforeseen issues. Organizers first attempted to reschedule the remaining Sailor Moon shows in China, but ultimately decided to cancel them.
Although it hasn’t been officially stated, many believe the lower-than-expected earnings of the film are connected to the current political disagreements between China and Japan. These tensions are also thought to be a factor in Demon Slayer not reaching the $1 billion mark globally, despite initial forecasts that Infinity Castle would perform similarly to Marvel’s Avengers films in China. However, box office experts, such as Luiz Fernando, suggest the early projections were overly optimistic, and Infinity Castle still had a very successful run in Chinese theaters.
I’ve been following the incredible rise of Japanese anime and entertainment in China, and it’s really stalled out lately. It feels like things have just stopped, and honestly, I don’t see a clear path forward right now.
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2025-12-17 22:11