Why This Topic Landed in Japan

Anti-Japanese sentiment spilling even into sports and theater — arenas that are supposed to be kept apart from politics — reawakened wariness toward extreme Chinese nationalism. At the same time, admiration grew for Japanese athletes who stayed unfazed by the booing, and the framing of "their overheating" versus "our composure" helped push the story.

Key Reaction Themes

  • Wariness of aggressive nationalism — Distaste for anti-Japanese feeling being carried into sports and theater.
  • References to "brainwashing education" — Viewing the on-stage attack as the result of an education that blurs reality and fiction.
  • Pride in one's own composure — A mood of contrasting the other side's overheating with Japan's calm.

What Japanese Netizens Are Saying

Loud Chinese booing during the Japan-China volleyball match

Chinese spectators booed loudly during Japan's serves, and viewers were unsettled that it went beyond the usual away-game treatment.

Source: 2ch

Comments:

  • "It can't be helped, they're Chinese after all."
  • "Not feeling miserable about themselves while doing this is so very much the Chinese mindset."
  • "China was said to be decent at least in sports, but it's finally sinking too."
  • "You overtook Japan with economic growth, so why do you hate Japan so much? No room to spare?"
  • "What a pitiful China, forever fixated on Japan, lol."
  • "Volleyball crowds are noisy to begin with, so no problem. Better than France in tennis."
  • "Volleyball fans are starting to get to know China."
  • "When Kai served there was huge booing too, but the announcer said 'the cheering from the crowd is amazing,' lol."

Actor playing a Japanese soldier attacked during a play in China

During a patriotic stage show, footage of an audience member flying-kicking the actor playing a Japanese soldier spread, prompting debate over excessive anti-Japanese education.

Source: reddit r/UnfilteredChina

Comments:

  • "Hell on earth."
  • "Does no one think it's not his fault, but the fault of the old Japanese army that made him do it? This country is insane."
  • "Playing a Japanese soldier in a country sensitive about the old Japanese army is itself a mistake."
  • "Even if he snapped at a fabricated 'story' of the old Japanese army made for anti-Japan propaganda, I can only see it as the responsibility of the Chinese who created it."
  • "Can't they hire a more decent actor? Haven't seen that in a while — a punch thrown like he's saying 'here I come.'"
  • "Everyone thinks China is insane, lol."
  • "There are lots of people like this in Japan too. Plenty write serious slanderous or threatening comments at people playing villains on YouTube or short videos."
  • "Yesterday's men's volleyball match against China was the same, a storm of booing — they're not qualified to be host."