Two popular Japanese films, “The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers” and “Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Super Hot!” have had their releases postponed in China amid escalating tensions related to Taiwan. This decision comes after comments made by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has stirred controversy with her remarks on the island’s status.
The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers, an animated comedy centered on the escapades of a wide-eyed preteen and his gang of misfit pals, was due to premiere in just a few weeks’ time. Film distributors and importers have opted to delay its release after evaluating the overall outlook for Japanese cinema in China and gauging sentiment among Chinese audiences. The delay seems to represent a larger trend of fear over viewer backlash due to recent geopolitical tensions.
China’s stance on Taiwan remains firm. The Chinese government views Taiwan as an illegitimate breakaway province that will one day be reunified with the mainland. At a time when rhetoric is heated, Beijing has made clear that it would not rule out using military force to reassert its control over Taiwan. Her comments about the overall situation are what’s most alarming.
“If there are battleships and the use of force, no matter how you think about it, could constitute a survival-threatening situation.” – Sanae Takaichi
The uncertainty surrounding the release of these films is compounded by the unclear status of “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle,” which has seen a decline in ticket sales. These developments’ impact goes far beyond the film industry — reverberating through Japan’s tourism, airline, and retail sectors. Investors reacted swiftly, leading to significant declines in stock values as they assessed the implications of China’s response.
China has been an increasingly important market for Japan as a tourist destination. True, almost 7.5 million visitors from China visited Japan during the same stretch of this year. With these tensions on the rise, Beijing has called for its citizens to avoid travel to Japan. The government has gone so far as to advise students against attending school there over safety issues.
Public opposition to a military deterrent is a third complication. For starters, the majority of Taiwanese people consider themselves citizens of a unique and separate country. They mainly support status quo preservation, which includes both independence avoidance as well as eventual unification with China. According to Chinese state media, CCTV, numerous film releases have been delayed. It illustrates more than ever before how political disagreements are corrupting cultural diplomacy.