Japanese Singer Maki Otsuki Escorted Off Stage in Shanghai: Full Report
Summary
Shanghai, China — Japanese singer Maki Otsuki, renowned for performing theme songs for the anime One Piece, was forcibly escorted off stage during her performance at the Bandai Namco Festival 2025 in Shanghai on Friday, November 28, 2025.
According to reports and fan footage, Otsuki was in the middle of singing her hit song "Memories" when the stage lights were suddenly cut and the audio system was silenced. Staff members immediately approached the singer and escorted her away, leaving the audience in confusion.
Key Details:
* The Incident: The interruption occurred abruptly mid-song. Following the incident, Otsuki’s management released a statement citing "unavoidable circumstances" for the halt.
* Wider Impact: The festival, which was scheduled to continue through the weekend, was subsequently canceled in its entirety. Other major Japanese acts slated to perform, including Ayumi Hamasaki and Momoiro Clover Z, also had their appearances canceled.
* Potential Cause: While official organizers cited vague reasons, multiple international news outlets link the incident to rising diplomatic tensions. Reports suggest the crackdown on Japanese cultural events follows recent comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, which drew sharp criticism from Beijing.
This incident marks a significant escalation in the disruption of cultural exchange events between the two nations, sparking concern among fans and industry experts about the future of Japanese entertainment in China.
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