Chinese actor Jiang Jinfu admits domestic violence against Japanese model Haruka Nakaura

Chinese actor Jiang Jinfu has admitted domestic violence against his girlfriend, the Japanese model Haruka Nakaura, after she posted photographs of her bruises on social media.

The star of television series Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky and Scarlet Heart 2 wrote on Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter, that he had “spent the past month in regret” and “should not have hit you”, addressing Nakaura.

Monday’s post on Instagram by Nakaura – known in China as Zhongpu Youhua – had included photos of bruises to her face and body, and a message written in Chinese and Japanese. She suggested that Jiang’s recent low profile was related to her.

She wrote: “Recently, I have caused everyone who cares about to me worry. I am still here. Jiang Jinfu’s recent disappearance is related to me. At my lawyers’ and investigators’ request, I’m sorry that I can’t say any more.”

Her account has since been deleted, but screenshots of her post have been widely shared on Chinese social media.

Jiang posted a statement on Weibo on Tuesday that read: “I spent the past month in regret. My impulsive behaviour has hurt you and your family, and I should not have hit you no matter the reason.”

The 27-year-old added that he was willing to take responsibility for his actions and accept any punishment.

Social media users have reacted angrily to posts about the actor. “How much hate is there to beat a girl up like this? It’s terrifying,” wrote one Weibo user. “I can’t imagine what the girl must have gone through,” wrote another.

About 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence by a non-partner, according to the United Nations.

One in four Japanese women have experienced violence from their partners, a 2015 survey by the Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office found, but only 2.2 per cent reported their case to the police. Across Asia, UN statistics suggest that only 20 per cent of victims seek help for domestic violence.

In China, about a quarter of women have reported experiencing some form of domestic violence, according to government statistics. The country introduced a domestic violence law only in 2016.