China Postpones Screening of Japanese Films Amid Shifting Audience Sentiment

China has postponed the scheduled releases of several Japanese films, including "Cells at Work!" and "Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Super Hot! Scorching Kasukabe Dancers," the China Film News reported yesterday.

Film importers and distributors confirmed the decision, stating it follows a comprehensive assessment of market performance and evolving audience sentiment toward Japanese cultural imports.

The move comes amid shifting viewer responses to recent Japanese releases. "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" opened strongly, leveraging its substantial fan base, but experienced a sharp box office decline within days of its premiere. The downturn coincided with statements made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, which triggered strong reactions among Chinese moviegoers.

By its fifth day in theaters, Demon Slayer saw projected earnings fall to approximately 20 million yuan (US$2.81 million), signaling a rapid loss of market momentum.

Industry representatives noted that provocative statements from Japanese officials could adversely affect the Chinese audience's reception of Japanese film content. In response, distributors and importers have opted to postpone upcoming releases, aligning with current market conditions and public sentiment.

As of November 16, China's domestic box office revenue for the year has reached 45.54 billion yuan, reinforcing its position as the world's second-largest film market. Domestic productions accounted for 40.30 billion yuan, or 88.48 percent of the total, marking the third time in Chinese cinema history that local films have surpassed the 40 billion yuan annual benchmark.