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The abrupt cancellations of several Japanese music events in Shanghai – one of them midway through a song – have sparked criticism among fans, with some calling the moves “rude” and “extreme”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maki Otsuki was halfway through the theme of hit anime One Piece<\/a> on Friday when the lights and music went off, after which she was rushed off stage by two crew members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Saturday, pop star Ayumi Hamasaki performed to an empty 14,000-seat stadium after organisers axed her concert in Shanghai, citing “force majeure”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This spate of cancellations come as diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo<\/a> fester over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While responding to a question in parliament last month, Takaichi, known to be a vocal critic of China and its activities in the region, suggested that Tokyo could take military action if Beijing attacked Taiwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beijing views self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to “reunite” with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both sides have since lodged protests against each other, and the rift has also affected daily living in both countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Otsuki’s management attributed the interruption of her performance on Friday to “unavoidable circumstances”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Other than the performance being cancelled, there were no particular problems, and the local staff were very kind and helpful,” it wrote in a separate statement on Monday, in which it declined interviews on the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her performance was part of a three-day music festival in Shanghai, for which subsequent events were also called off after “comprehensively taking into consideration various factors”, according to Japan’s Kyodo News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The BBC has reached out to Japanese entertainment company Bandai Namco, who is one of the organisers of the festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asked about the incident at a daily media conference on Monday, a spokesperson from Beijing’s foreign ministry told reporters: “I suggest you chat with the Chinese organisers.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n