Concert Disruption for Japanese Singer in Shanghai

During a concert in Shanghai on Friday, Japanese pop singer Maki Otsuki faced an abrupt interruption when the sound system was shut down, and she was instructed to leave the stage. The reasons behind this disrespectful treatment were not specified, but it seems to tie into the growing tensions between China and Japan stemming from comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Taiwan.

Otsuki was performing at the Bandai Namco Festival 2025, an event highlighting anime and video games from key Japanese companies. She’s known for a song featured in the globally popular anime One Piece, which has recently been adapted into a live-action series on Netflix.

Earlier, Otsuki had been scheduled to perform on both Friday and Saturday; however, during her set on Friday, the lights and music abruptly ceased. It was reported that a couple of crew members rushed her off stage, and her management later referred to the cancellation as a result of “unavoidable circumstances.”

Despite the cancellation, Otsuki’s management maintained that there were no other issues, noting that local staff was courteous. On the following day, another Japanese artist, Ayumi Hamasaki, found herself performing in front of an empty stadium, as organizers canceled her show after much deliberation about various factors.

A video of Otsuki being silenced and ordered to leave quickly circulated on Chinese social media, leading to backlash against local authorities for overly strict regulations on Japanese performers. This incident greatly upset Chinese fans, with some expressing their outrage on social media platforms. One user suggested that the decision showed a lack of regard for the audience, asserting that they, being Chinese, should matter just as much.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass expressed his disappointment, stating, “What a shame that not everyone can experience the power of music. Don’t stop believing in Maki!” Meanwhile, a segment of Chinese nationalists spoke out on social media, supporting the censorship and questioning why all performances from Japan hadn’t been canceled sooner, considering the hostile sentiment against Japan at present.

This isn’t the first time that Japanese artists have faced cancellations in China. Notable acts like jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara and the musical Sailor Moon have had their performances scrapped recently. Just weeks ago, jazz musician Yoshio Suzuki was prevented from performing in Beijing by plainclothes police, who announced all concerts involving Japanese artists were canceled without prior discussions.

In another instance, singer Akiko Yoshida, known as “Kokia,” encountered similar treatment when authorities locked her out of her venue, leading to a frustrated crowd of fans outside demanding refunds.

Reports indicate that music venues in China have been advised not to book Japanese artists for 2026, and promotions for upcoming Japanese shows have been prohibited. Tensions have escalated significantly following Takaichi’s comments regarding Taiwan, where her government labeled any potential Chinese invasion as an existential threat. This has provoked anger from Chinese officials, some of whom have even called for her resignation amid the rising diplomatic strain.

The continued pushback from China appears aimed at pressuring Takaichi to recant her statements, though she remains defiant. Interestingly, despite ongoing retaliations affecting tourism and entertainment revenues from China, Takaichi’s popularity among younger Japanese citizens has surged due to her confrontational stance, garnering support from officials in Japan, the U.S., and Taiwan.