{"id":2170825,"date":"2025-11-21T18:08:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T18:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2170825"},"modified":"2025-11-21T18:08:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T18:08:43","slug":"china-scraps-concerts-with-japanese-musicians-as-diplomatic-tensions-mount","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/china-scraps-concerts-with-japanese-musicians-as-diplomatic-tensions-mount\/","title":{"rendered":"China scraps concerts with Japanese musicians as diplomatic tensions mount"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"primary-gallery\" dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\n<div data-testid=\"GalleryDetails\" class=\"primary-gallery-module__detail__smFzD primary-gallery-module__with-caption-padding__V8CAF\">\n<p>Item 1 of 5 A woman points to an advertisement poster for a cancelled concert by Japanese musician Yoshio Suzuki before the organisers&#8217; interview with Reuters in Beijing, China, November 21, 2025. REUTERS\/Maxim Shemetov<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__ultra_small__6-vhY body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__ultra_small_body__WelUC primary-gallery-module__caption__rjoEa\"><b data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__medium__2Rl30 text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__ultra_small_body__WelUC primary-gallery-module__pagination__3IXiB\">[1\/5]<\/b><span>A woman points to an advertisement poster for a cancelled concert by Japanese musician Yoshio Suzuki before the organisers&#8217; interview with Reuters in Beijing, China, November 21, 2025. REUTERS\/Maxim Shemetov <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reutersconnect.com\/item\/a-woman-points-to-an-advertisement-poster-for-a-canceled-concert-by-japanese-musician-yoshio-suzuki-in-beijing\/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjU6bmV3c21sX1JDMlMwSUFDNEM0UQ%3D%3D\/?utm_medium=rcom-article-media&amp;utm_campaign=rcom-rcp-lead\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76 collapsible-caption-module__license__CPQvV\">Purchase Licensing<span><span class=\"link-module__suffix__ObiNY\"> Rights<\/span><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"presentation\" data-testid=\"NewTabSymbol\" class=\"link-module__new-tab-symbol__d53s7 link-module__move-left__CCZH6 collapsible-caption-module__symbol__943UJ\" fill=\"#666\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\"><path fill=\"#666\" d=\"M15 6c.6 0 1 .4 1 1s-.4 1-1 1H9c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1v14a1.1 1.1 0 0 0 .2.6c.1.2.4.4.8.4h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1v-6c0-.6.4-1 1-1s1 .4 1 1v6a3 3 0 0 1-3 3H9a3 3 0 0 1-2.2-.9A3 3 0 0 1 6 23V9a3 3 0 0 1 3-3Zm10 0 .4.1.5.5.1.4v6c0 .6-.4 1-1 1s-1-.4-1-1V9.4l-5.3 5.3a1 1 0 0 1-.7.3 1 1 0 0 1-.7-.3 1 1 0 0 1 0-1.4L22.6 8H19c-.6 0-1-.4-1-1s.4-1 1-1Z\"\/><\/svg><span style=\"border:0;clip:rect(0 0 0 0);clip-path:inset(50%);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px;white-space:nowrap\">, opens new tab<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div data-testid=\"ContextWidget\" class=\"context-widget-module__container__b9mKr context-widget-module__with-scroll__CmEdD article-body-module__context_widget__sq1EI\">\n<div class=\"context-widget-module__content__lI1uo\">\n<ul data-testid=\"Summary\" class=\"summary-module__summary__QjADA\">\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">Plain clothes police shut down concert by Japanese jazz musicians<\/li>\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">About a dozen concerts have been abruptly cancelled<\/li>\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">Japanese PM&#8217;s remarks about potential military response over Taiwan angered China<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>BEIJING, Nov 21 (Reuters) &#8211; Japanese jazz musician Yoshio Suzuki and his band were in the midst of a sound check for some long-awaited performances in Beijing when the venue was visited by plain-clothes police on Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;After less than one minute, the venue owner came to me and said the police told him all concerts with Japanese people are cancelled &#8211; and there is no discussion,&#8221; said Christian Petersen-Clausen, a German concert promoter and documentary filmmaker who has lived in China for 13 years.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"promo-box\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__promo-box__hVl8h\"> <!-- -->Sign up<!-- --> <!-- --> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/china-scraps-concerts-with-japanese-musicians-diplomatic-tensions-mount-2025-11-21\/undefined?location=article-paragraph&amp;redirectUrl=%2Fworld%2Fchina%2Fchina-scraps-concerts-with-japanese-musicians-diplomatic-tensions-mount-2025-11-21%2F\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>About a dozen concerts with Japanese musicians in major Chinese cities have been abruptly cancelled this week as diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo escalate.<\/p>\n<p>The trigger was remarks this month by new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi who said a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan&#8217;s survival could trigger a military response from Tokyo.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"paragraph-4\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__paragraph__Ts-yF\">China, which regards the democratically governed island as its own, was incensed and has said Takaichi will face consequences. Its response began with economic measures such as a boycott on travel to Japan and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/china-suspend-imports-japanese-seafood-amid-diplomatic-dispute-kyodo-reports-2025-11-19\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\">a ban<\/a> on imports of Japanese seafood, but it has since increasingly spilt over to the realm of cultural events.<\/div>\n<p>Suzuki, an 80-year-old renowned jazz bassist and his quintet had undergone a months-long review process to obtain China performance visas.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;They were absolutely excited to come to China,&#8221; according to Petersen-Clausen, adding the band was &#8220;crushed&#8221; at the news.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday and Friday, music venues across China were warned by authorities that concerts with Japanese musicians for the remainder of 2025 may be cancelled, he said.<\/p>\n<p>The venues were also told not to submit fresh applications for Japanese performers&#8217; gigs next year and concert organisers are now banned from sending promotional texts to fans about upcoming gigs of Japanese artists.<\/p>\n<p>China&#8217;s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<h2 data-testid=\"Heading\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__medium__2Rl30 text-module__heading_6__u1KdJ heading-module__base__p-zaD heading-module__heading_6__-zrtS article-body-module__heading__KTJKz\">CHINA WELL VERSED IN CULTURAL BOYCOTTS<\/h2>\n<p>Other abrupt cancellations include a Beijing concert by Japanese singer KOKIA on Wednesday evening, according to dozens of complaints from angry fans on social media.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Everyone queued until the start time, but they still wouldn&#8217;t let us in. Afterwards, KOKIA&#8217;s team came out to tell us the band is ready, but the venue won&#8217;t let them perform,&#8221; read one post on the platform RedNote.<\/p>\n<p>Videos circulating on X on Thursday showed a large crowd of angry fans outside the venue chanting: &#8220;Give us our money back!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Japanese rapper KID FRESINO&#8217;s China tour was indefinitely postponed on Friday, according to a social media post by his Chinese tour promoter.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"paragraph-14\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__paragraph__Ts-yF\">China has a history of using <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/world\/amid-south-korea-freeze-china-says-cultural-exchanges-take-the-temperature-idUSKBN1CP0C6\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\">cultural boycotts<\/a> against countries as a form of economic coercion during diplomatic disputes.<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"paragraph-15\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__paragraph__Ts-yF\">No major K-pop bands have been allowed to perform in the country since the 2016 <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/skorea-says-thaad-missile-system-is-means-self-defence-news1-2022-08-11\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\">THAAD missile dispute<\/a> between the two neighbours. K-dramas and other Korean cultural products remain under an unofficial ban on Chinese platforms.<\/div>\n<p>Beijing has been battling to boost spending on services this year amid a prolonged economic slowdown. Cancelling these concerts will be a further drag on growth, said Petersen-Clausen. He noted the knock-on effects of fans&#8217; cancelled flights and hotel bookings and reduced shifts for Chinese support staff.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"paragraph-17\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__paragraph__Ts-yF\">Live music gigs are also an important outlet for many young Chinese people facing work or life <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/new-unproductive-forces-chinese-youth-owning-their-unemployment-2024-09-01\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\">pressure<\/a> during the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sustainability\/sustainable-finance-reporting\/chinas-weak-job-market-stirs-boom-era-nostalgia-social-media-2025-08-01\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\">economic downturn<\/a>, and many young music fans who attend concerts pay little attention to international politics, he added.<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;We do see this kind of (anti-Japanese) sentiment sometimes online &#8230; but we don&#8217;t see it at these concerts,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve never, ever heard anybody bring politics into these moments.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>(This story has been corrected to say that Christian Petersen-Clausen is German, not Norwegian, in paragraph 2) <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-body-module__element__5eCce\">\n<p data-testid=\"SignOff\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 sign-off-module__text__LQAMP\">Reporting by Laurie Chen and Eduardo Baptista in Beijing; Editing by Edwina Gibbs<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__element__5eCce article-body-module__trust-badge__5mS3f\">Our Standards: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thomsonreuters.com\/en\/about-us\/trust-principles.html\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__medium__2Rl30 text-module__small__sph8i link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"presentation\" data-testid=\"NewTabSymbol\" class=\"link-module__new-tab-symbol__d53s7\"><path fill=\"#666\" d=\"M15 6c.6 0 1 .4 1 1s-.4 1-1 1H9c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1v14a1.1 1.1 0 0 0 .2.6c.1.2.4.4.8.4h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1v-6c0-.6.4-1 1-1s1 .4 1 1v6a3 3 0 0 1-3 3H9a3 3 0 0 1-2.2-.9A3 3 0 0 1 6 23V9a3 3 0 0 1 3-3Zm10 0 .4.1.5.5.1.4v6c0 .6-.4 1-1 1s-1-.4-1-1V9.4l-5.3 5.3a1 1 0 0 1-.7.3 1 1 0 0 1-.7-.3 1 1 0 0 1 0-1.4L22.6 8H19c-.6 0-1-.4-1-1s.4-1 1-1Z\"\/><\/svg><span style=\"border:0;clip:rect(0 0 0 0);clip-path:inset(50%);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px;white-space:nowrap\">, opens new tab<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<nav aria-label=\"Tags\" data-testid=\"Tags\" class=\"tags-line-module__tags__oT22o article-body-module__element__5eCce\"\/>\n<div class=\"article-body-module__row__jhsYg article-body-module__element__5eCce\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reutersagency.com\/en\/licensereuterscontent\/?utm_medium=rcom-article-media&amp;utm_campaign=rcom-rcp-lead\" target=\"_blank\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"button-module__link__A3sD0 button-module__secondary__70gBu button-module__round__QDFgq button-module__w_auto__Sem-F\" data-testid=\"LicenceContentButton\"><span class=\"button-module__container__7hKTY license-content-button-module__button__fVUbl\"><span data-testid=\"Text\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__body_fixed__x-bYA license-content-button-module__text__o0vYm\">Purchase Licensing Rights<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"AuthorBio\" class=\"article-body-module__element__5eCce\">\n<address class=\"author-bio-module__author-card__x6Fud\">\n<div class=\"author-bio-module__author-wrapper__0yxtX\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"AuthorBioImageLink\" class=\"author-bio-module__author-image__jcaG3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/authors\/laurie-chen\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"AuthorBioImage\" class=\"author-bio-module__image__JYfQ0\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/resizer\/v2\/https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com%2Freuters%2FH24NV3AFCZCWPC463OG3JRYY7U.jpg?auth=4dd3566d980534ddab2fb815cfdf9f08e04ca3d4f4dd0c88f6e42931b1e77167&amp;height=120&amp;width=120&amp;quality=80&amp;smart=true\" alt=\"Laurie Chen\"\/><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 author-bio-module__description__9ynkB\">Laurie Chen is a China Correspondent at Reuters&#8217; Beijing bureau, covering politics and general news. Before joining Reuters, she reported on China for six years at Agence France-Presse and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. She speaks fluent Mandarin. <\/p>\n<\/address>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.reuters.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Item 1 of 5 A woman points to an advertisement poster for a cancelled concert by Japanese musician Yoshio Suzuki before the organisers&#8217; interview with Reuters in Beijing, China, November 21, 2025. REUTERS\/Maxim Shemetov [1\/5]A woman points to an advertisement poster for a cancelled concert by Japanese musician Yoshio Suzuki before the organisers&#8217; interview with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[28008,382544,347385,397382,382547,396663,347387,347418,347419,347407,347422,347415,347410,347426,417098,347408,347432,347435,347431,388422,347428,347413,347420,347411,347429,347409,347414,347427,347425,400575,347421,347424,382559,397384,382542,382545,347390,347392,417095,417096,370154,417097,347393,347395,347383,347382,21800,347434,388423,383249,406810,347398,396662,21861,347401,347402,417094,347384],"class_list":["post-2170825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-music","tag-asia","tag-asxpac","tag-ccos","tag-clj","tag-cn","tag-cwp","tag-cycs","tag-destabn","tag-destafa","tag-destcsa","tag-destdnp","tag-deste","tag-destg","tag-destgns","tag-destj","tag-destlby","tag-destocatpm","tag-destousenm","tag-destoustpm","tag-destouswdm","tag-destpco","tag-destpge","tag-destpsc","tag-destrast","tag-destrbn","tag-destreulb","tag-destrnp","tag-destrws","tag-destrwsa","tag-destseatp","tag-destu","tag-destucdptest","tag-destz","tag-dip","tag-easia","tag-emrg","tag-ent","tag-gen","tag-hlf","tag-hls","tag-jp","tag-kr","tag-mdia","tag-msic","tag-mtpix","tag-mtvid","tag-music","tag-packageus-top-news","tag-packageworld-news","tag-pol","tag-prfmce","tag-pub","tag-secur","tag-show","tag-tmt","tag-topcmb","tag-topicworld-china-slug","tag-topnws"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2170825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2170825"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2170825\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2170826,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2170825\/revisions\/2170826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2170825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2170825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2170825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}