China Celebrates Spring Festival as Anime Bans Highlight Historical Tensions

Nation Embraces Spring Festival Festivities

China is currently immersed in the vibrant celebrations of the Spring Festival 2026, also known as Chinese New Year. The festivities officially commenced on Tuesday, February 17th, marking the beginning of the Year of the Horse, and are set to culminate with the Lantern Festival on March 3rd. Across the nation, traditional galas, dragon dances, fireworks displays, and family gatherings are central to the holiday, which is recognized as a significant cultural event globally. Cities like Qingyuan are hosting nearly 400 cultural and tourism events, including various Spring Festival Galas, from early February through March. The China Media Group (CMG) has also been actively preparing its 2026 Spring Festival Gala, a major television event.

Japanese Anime Cosplay and Merchandise Banned at Events

Despite the widespread cultural celebrations, a contrasting development has emerged in the realm of popular culture. Since early 2026, several events in China, including major gatherings in Beijing, Chongqing, and Lanzhou, have implemented bans on cosplay and merchandise related to popular Japanese anime series. Notably, the series Detective Conan has been affected, following a backlash over its recent collaboration with another Japanese anime, My Hero Academia.

Historical Memory at the Core of Controversy

The root of the controversy traces back to 2020, when My Hero Academia faced criticism in China due to its villain character, Maruta Shiga. The name 'Maruta' was widely interpreted as a derogatory term used by Japan's Imperial Army Unit 731 during its wartime occupation of northeastern China, referring to victims of horrific human experiments. This historical reference is deeply sensitive in China, and the recent collaboration, intended to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Detective Conan and the 10th anniversary of My Hero Academia, reignited public anger.

Organizers of an event in Lanzhou explicitly stated that individuals wearing 'the kimono, wooden clogs and outfits associated with militarism' would be denied entry, citing 'historical issues that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.' Similarly, organizers of a fair in Beijing indicated that the prohibitions were aimed at fostering 'a good atmosphere.' In Chongqing, the ban extended to Pokémon cosplay and merchandise, following a separate controversy involving a planned Pokémon card event at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, a site often viewed in China as a symbol of Japanese militarism.

Broader Context of Sino-Japanese Cultural Relations

These bans underscore ongoing tensions over historical memory between China and Japan, where cultural and commercial exchanges can become entangled in unresolved legacies of the past. Reports indicate broader restrictions on Japanese cultural events in China since late 2025, encompassing concerts and films, amidst rising political tensions. While the Chinese government has a history of censoring foreign media and promoting domestic content, there have also been efforts to bridge cultural divides. In late 2024, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met to discuss promoting anime co-productions and resolving issues related to transparency and anti-piracy measures, highlighting a complex and often contradictory relationship in cultural exchange.