It is believed to be the result of political tensions.
12 hours ago
Japanese idol Ayumi Hamasaki, whose Shanghai leg of the tour was canceled due to tensions between China and Japan, still took the stage and performed a full concert without an audience.
Ayumi Hamasaki | @a.you/Instagram
On November 30, 2025 (local time), Ayumi posted on Instagram photos from the “concert,” noting that while the 14,000-seater venue was empty, she was able to feel “so much love [from fans] around the world.”
| @a.you/Instagram
With 14,000 empty seats but felt so much love of TAs from all over the world, it was one of the most unforgettable show ever to me. I [appreciate] 200 of Chinese and Japanese crew, band members, dancers who made this stage happen. From bottom of my heart…
— Ayumi Hamasaki
It was previously announced that Ayumi’s show was canceled on November 28.
She wrote, “Regarding the Shanghai concert, please forgive me for having to deliver such painful news,” and explained that “As with every show so far, 200 staff members from Japan and China worked together over five days to complete today’s stage in Shanghai, but this morning we suddenly received an order to stop the performance.” At the time, she did show determination to continue with the tour regardless.
| @a.you/Instagram
I am continuing on with the company staff who fought for this tour, the Chinese staff, and my Japanese family, so please don’t worry. I still firmly believe entertainment should be a bridge that connects people, and I want to continue building that bridge.
— Ayumi Hamasaki
Following the news of Ayumi’s bold move to push forward with the show amid the ongoing political tension, fans are curious as to how and why. Some have since speculated that it may have been done for the purpose of a Blu-ray/DVD recording.
| theqoo
- “So Japanese-coded LOL.”
- “Um, this is so cringe.”
- [Unrelated Comment]
- “Wait, a right-wing adulterer booked a 14,000-seat concert in China to begin with? I suppose China had a lot of J-Pop fans as well. I’ve never even heard of this woman.”
- “She’ll just sell the content to make up for the loss.”
- “Well, she can still sell DVDs. LOL. She probably filmed everything they wanted since there was no audience.”
- “If she sells the DVD, it might actually end up selling well.”
The abrupt cancellations of Ayumi and other Japanese artists’ shows in China are believed to be tied to the rising anti-Japan sentiment in China, triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on November 7, hinting at possible involvement in a Taiwan contingency. China reacted with harsh criticism for days, but Takaichi has said she does not intend to retract her comments. Since then, China has urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, citing “public safety issues,” and advised students to carefully reconsider studying abroad in Japan, signaling an increase in government restrictions.
Before Ayumi, Japanese singer-songwriter KOKIA also saw her Beijing concert canceled suddenly, just 30 minutes before showtime on the 19th. Japanese boy group JO1 also canceled a fan event scheduled for the 28th in Guangzhou, citing “force majeure.” Japanese singer Maki Otsuki, known for singing a theme song for the popular anime One Piece, had the lights suddenly turned off during her performance at the “Bandai Namco Festival 2025” in Shanghai and was instructed to leave the stage.
Read more about Ayumi Hamasaki here:
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Source: Hankyung and theqoo
