News China advises citizens against travel to Japan amid rising tensions over Taiwan

China's Foreign Ministry has advised its citizens against travelling to Japan during the Lunar New Year holiday, pointing to an increase in crimes involving Chinese nationals as well as a succession of earthquakes in parts of the country. The warning was issued ahead of the Spring Festival travel season, which begins on 15 February, according to the Xinhua News Agency. The ministry called on people to avoid travelling to Japan during the holiday period.


It said the warning was based on repeated crimes targeting Chinese citizens and ongoing earthquake activity in some areas, urging travellers to be cautious and rethink their plans.

With large numbers of Chinese tourists typically visiting Japan during the holiday season, the advisory appears aimed at reinforcing restraint and reducing outbound travel. Meanwhile, three major Chinese airlines announced they would extend the period for free cancellations on flights between China and Japan from March 28th through October 24th, raising concerns that the impact on Japan's tourism industry could be prolonged.

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Many people believe that the group most upset by the cancellation of anime-related events is Chinese fans, while Japanese fans are largely unaffected. This is because Japanese audiences usually have direct access to anime content, events, and merchandise domestically, whereas Chinese fans rely more heavily on limited official releases.

Regarding films, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc, Part 1: Akaza Returns" was released in mainland China on November 14, 2025, became a major hit, and then ended its theatrical run around December 11, as originally scheduled. While some fans speculate that tensions in Japan–China relations may have influenced the relatively short screening period, there is no clear evidence that political factors were the direct cause, as shorter theatrical runs are common in China.

In contrast, the globally successful animated film "Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc" has not been officially released in mainland China. This has led to frustration among Chinese fans, who feel excluded compared to audiences in Japan and other regions. As a result, dissatisfaction among Chinese fans is more likely driven by lack of access to official releases, rather than by cancellations affecting Japanese audiences.

In short:

Chinese anime fans tend to react more strongly because access is limited.

Japanese fans usually experience little to no impact.

"Demon Slayer" was released in China but for a limited period.

"Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc" was not released in China, which has disappointed many Chinese fans.