Weibo, China’s microblogging social media platform, has become a crucial tool for staying informed about current events in China. It was on Weibo that a doctor in Wuhan first raised the alarm about the spread of a new coronavirus, highlighting the platform’s role in disseminating important information. However, in a country where speech is tightly controlled, there has been a noticeable increase in overly patriotic posts on Weibo in recent times.
One recent incident that exemplifies this trend occurred in Dalian, a city in northeastern China known for its Japan-friendly reputation. A newly opened attraction called „Little Kyoto“ in the „Tang Little Kyoto“ commercial complex was forced to suspend operations after just one week. The city government cited „issues related to COVID-19“ and „online criticism“ as reasons for the closure, with the latter being the primary factor.
The backlash on Weibo against the „Little Kyoto“ attraction was swift and intense, with many users expressing outrage at the replication of a Japanese city in a region that had once been under Japanese rule. The timing of the opening, just before the 90th anniversary of the Mukden Incident, further fueled anti-Japanese sentiment among netizens. As a result, the complex will undergo changes to remove references to Kyoto and adopt a more subdued Japanese theme.
Despite the online criticism, the „Little Kyoto“ attraction was initially met with great success, attracting over 100,000 visitors daily. This disparity between the online community’s negative reactions and the real-life popularity of the attraction underscores the disconnect between the two spheres. The clash between past grievances and present cultural exchanges highlights the challenges of fostering positive relations between Japan and China.
While Japanese pop culture has gained popularity in China in recent years, with fans of manga and izakaya pubs on the rise, there remains a deep-seated resistance to anything associated with Japan’s history of aggression towards China. Even seemingly innocuous actions, such as wearing a kimono, can provoke accusations of forgetting one’s Chinese pride. This tension between cultural appreciation and historical animosity complicates efforts to build friendship between the two nations.
In conclusion, the case of the „Little Kyoto“ attraction in Dalian serves as a microcosm of the complex dynamics at play in Sino-Japanese relations. As long as online criticism continues to shape public opinion and hinder forward-looking initiatives, true friendship between Japan and China will remain elusive. It is essential for both countries to navigate these sensitivities with sensitivity and respect in order to foster mutual understanding and cooperation.
