US EditionJapan 'One Piece' singer halted mid-performance in China
Maki Otsuki's performance was stopped mid-show amid rising Japan-China tensions after Prime Minister Takaichi's Taiwan remarks; the Bandai Namco Festival 2025 was fully canceled.
- Maki Otsuki, Japanese singer whose songs feature in One Piece, was forced to stop performing on stage at the Bandai Namco Festival 2025 in Shanghai.
- Her Nov 29 show was canceled by management citing unavoidable circumstances, and organizers announced on WeChat that Bandai Namco Festival 2025 would be canceled after "comprehensively taking into consideration various factors".
- A social media video shows Otsuki singing on the stage at Bandai Namco Festival 2025 in Shanghai before the lights cut out and the music stopped, then two people believed to be staff escorted her off stage.
- Other high-profile Japanese acts have also called off China performances, including Momoiro Clover Z, who were told by the organiser to cancel their Saturday slot, citing unavoidable circumstances.
- The interruption occurred amid rising tensions over remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Soichiro Matsutani warned `The situation surrounding Japan's entertainment business could become even more severe`.
28 Articles
28 Articles
Japanese ‘One Piece’ Singer Stopped Mid-Show in Shanghai as CCP Maintains Pressure
The recent cancellations of Japanese stars’ performances in China have sparked complaints and discussions about the economic repercussions for Chinese businesses amid Beijing’s retaliation campaign against Tokyo. In one of the latest incidents, Maki Otsuki—who sang the first ending theme “Memories” for the popular Japanese anime “One Piece”—had her performance in Shanghai cut short. Video clips posted on social media from the Nov. 28 performance…
Japanese singer Maki Otsuki performed in Shanghai, China this weekend. She was unable to finish her performance.
Hong Kong Free Press
Macao NewsJapanese ‘One Piece’ singer halted mid-performance in China
Japanese “One Piece” singer Maki Otsuki was forced to halt her performance on stage in Shanghai, her management said, one of the latest events hit by a diplomatic spat between Tokyo and Beijing. Otsuki, known for the theme song of the popular anime, had been slated to perform for two days from Friday at the Bandai Namco Festival 2025 in the Chinese city. However, she “had to abruptly halt her performance due to unavoidable circumstances” on Frid…
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