Japanese artists have problems amid Japan-China crisis – level 2

Japanese artists have problems amid Japan-China crisis

08-12-2025 07:00

Japan and China have a political dispute that stops cultural events from taking place. Recently, China suddenly stopped concerts by Japanese singers like Maki Otsuki and Ayumi Hamasaki, making fans and organizers upset.

The problem began after the Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, said that Japan might use its military if China attacked Taiwan. China views Taiwan as its own land and wants the Prime Minister to take back her words. She refused to do this. China already took action against Japan. The country now bans Japanese seafood, stops many flights, and freezes the youth exchange program.

Experts say that if the political fight doesn’t end, Japanese music and films may be hurt for a long time.

Difficult words: dispute (a disagreement or argument), refuse (to say no), youth exchange program (a program which allows young people from one country to visit and often study or live in another country).

You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.

Besides cancelling concerts by Maki Otsuki and Ayumi Hamasaki, what other actions has China taken against Japan?

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