"My Second Home" and "Support for One China"... Japanese Celebrities Openly Declare Pro-China Stance

Expressing Support for China on Social Media
"China is My Second Home... The Place That Gave My Life Meaning"

Following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks suggesting possible intervention in the event of a Taiwan contingency, tensions between China and Japan have escalated into the so-called "Hanilryeong" (Japan Restriction Order), prompting Japanese celebrities active in China to publicly express their support for China.

On November 19, outlets such as China Radio International and the South China Morning Post reported, "Prime Minister Takaichi of Japan continues to face criticism from Chinese citizens over her inappropriate remarks, but some Japanese celebrities have posted messages supporting China."

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attending the first session of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. Photo by Yonhap News.

Yanokoji, a Japanese actor and host working in China, expressed his affection for the country on Chinese social media, writing, "I came to China 25 years ago. It is my second hometown." He added, "It is the place that gave me my career, friendships, and the meaning of life." He continued, "In China, I have my family, brothers, love and friendship, and a sense of support. I will always cherish everything and support the One China principle."

Japanese singer Mayria also posted on social media, saying, "China is my second home, and my Chinese friends are my precious family," and "I have always supported the One China principle." Mayria is a Japanese singer and lyricist. As a member of the mixed-gender duo music group Garnidelia, she has recently appeared on several Chinese entertainment programs. The "One China" principle is a political assertion and a fundamental tenet of international relations that China and Taiwan are part of a single country-China.

A post by Yanokoji on social media. Weibo.

Keiji Takamine, a Japanese actor mainly known for his appearances in the "Ultraman" series, criticized Prime Minister Takaichi on X (formerly Twitter) by posting, "What is the point of having conflicts with China? The secret to maintaining peace is to work on improving relations."

On November 7, Prime Minister Takaichi stated that a "Taiwan contingency" could be considered a "situation threatening Japan's survival," which would allow the exercise of collective self-defense. As a result, China-Japan relations have rapidly deteriorated. The Chinese government's strong response toward Japan began in earnest on November 13. On the night of November 13, Sun Weidong, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, summoned Kenji Kanasugi, the Japanese Ambassador to China, to lodge a protest. The following day, on November 14, Wu Jianghao, Chinese Ambassador to Japan, met with Takehiro Funakoshi, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, to convey China's protest.

Furthermore, on November 15, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a travel advisory for its citizens regarding visits to Japan. Major airlines such as Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines simultaneously began offering free cancellations for flights to Japan. On November 16, the Chinese Ministry of Education announced, "Recently, public safety in Japanese society has become unstable, and there has been a rise in illegal crimes targeting Chinese nationals," urging Chinese students to carefully reconsider their plans to study in Japan. On the same day, a Japanese scholar told the Global Times, "The Prime Minister's inappropriate remarks are not accidental but stem from Japan's history," adding, "China's strong response serves as a warning." He further stated, "If the Japanese government ignores relations with neighboring countries, it will ultimately have a negative impact on national security and economic prospects."

In addition, numerous Chinese media outlets reported that the screenings of movies such as "Crayon Shin-chan: The Super Luxurious! Blazing Kasukabe Dancers" and "Cells at Work!", both scheduled for release on November 17, would be temporarily suspended. Notably, since the issuance of China's "Japan Travel Advisory," there has been a surge in trip cancellations. According to multiple Chinese media reports, approximately 491,000 Japan-bound flight tickets from China were canceled over a three-day period, accounting for 32% of all bookings.