Japanese K-idols sidelined from events amid China tensions

Tensions between China and Japan appear to be affecting South Korea’s music industry, as events in China featuring groups with Japanese members have been either cancelled or revised.

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One such event was K-pop girl group Le Sserafim’s meet-and-greet event for their single Spaghetti (2025) on Dec 14, which was cancelled due to an “uncontrollable factor” with no further details given.

Two of the girl group’s five members - Sakura and Kazuha - are Japanese, and strained bilateral relations between the two countries are seen to have likely played a role.

China-Japan ties have been frosty since November, after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s parliamentary remarks that Japan will be militarily involved if China puts up a naval blockade over Taiwan.

China views Taiwan as part of its territory to be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary.