Cross-Country Animosity Doesn't Deter Them: Some Chinese Passionately Support Japan

Despite the historical animosity between China and Japan, further deepened by the rise of "hardline" Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi last year, a crowd of Chinese fans in blue jerseys gathered at a bar. Their passion for the Japanese team, however, is long-standing and separate from political disputes.

The group's main organizer stated that the 90s generation grew up on Japanese anime, especially the series "Captain Tsubasa," which tells the story of a football genius. "Japan now represents the pride and glory of Asian football," he revealed.

China qualified for the World Cup only once in 2002, losing all three matches and failing to score a single goal. In the FIFA rankings, they sit at a lowly 91st, while Japan is the top Asian team at 16th.

Fu Jin-yu, a long-time Japan fan and author on the subject, argues that Japan's modern football environment is crucial for youth development and fan culture, ensuring its competitiveness even against European teams. Conversely, China is still searching for its identity, and its football scene is becoming increasingly insular, according to Jasper Sun, another member of the fan group.

After the match, the supporters enthusiastically waved a huge Japanese team flag and celebrated the victory together. When asked if they felt any hostility from other Chinese people, they unanimously replied that such instances exist, but they pay little attention to them.

Sun also added that Shanghai is "relatively open and inclusive," and during a trip to a match against China in Xiamen in 2024, they experienced peace without conflict. The online environment, however, is different. Aki Yang, who manages a Japanese fan page on social media, frequently faces insults and criticism, with some calling her a "traitor" or a "lackey." On the Chinese platform Xiaohongshu, advice circulates on how to hide a Japanese flag on a jersey to avoid "embarrassment."

Student Julie Wang stated that online comments deter her from publicly expressing support for Japan. Tensions between the countries have deepened, particularly after Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks about potential military intervention in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Fan emphasized that despite the tensions, he believes it's important to support friendship between the two countries, which is his biggest dream. Aki Yang believes that football has the power to break down barriers and bring joy regardless of political or national identities. In today's unstable world, she sees football as a unique opportunity to overcome differences.