Fans clutched sketchbooks, handmade costumes, and priceless memorabilia, proudly showcasing Japan's otaku culture: anime, manga, games and fan-created works, the global pop culture calling card for the country. Industry analysts described the drop as the most significant decline in Chinese inbound tourism since the COVID-19 pandemic, signified by a sharp drop in Chinese bookings in the weeks that followed, as Chinese authorities issued travel advisories and major Chinese travel agencies suspended Japan-bound package tours. What is clear, though, is that pop culture, once treated as neutral ground, is now squarely inside the region’s shifting geopolitical story, with pop culture content being the true remaining social capital connecting Japan and the rest of the world.
Published at: 2026-01-18 22:07:32
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