Japanese anime star Ai Kayano sparks anger on China’s social media after visit to controversial Yasukuni Shrine

Kayano, who has performed in dozens of animated films and video games, triggered a heated online debate after posting about her February 11 trip

An academic says it is unlikely she was aware of the full significance of visiting the shrine, which commemorates millions of Japanese war dead, including convicted war criminals

Reading Time:3 minutes

Japanese voice actress Ai Kayano visited the shrine on February 11. Photo: Weibo

Published: 3:46pm, 16 Feb 2021Updated: 5:04pm, 16 Feb 2021

Japanese voice actress Ai Kayano has triggered a fierce online debate with her social media posts about visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, the controversial memorial in Tokyo that commemorates millions of Japan’s war dead, including convicted war criminals.

Kayano, a 33-year-old Tokyo native, has performed leading roles in dozens of animated films, television programmes and video games, many of which have also proved popular in China. Her credits include Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend and No Game, No Life.

In a YouTube broadcast last Thursday, Kayano said she had recently visited the Yasukuni Shrine, describing it as “comfortable” and adding that the air there was fresh. She also mentioned the visit on her Twitter page, although both posts have since been deleted.

Chinese social media users were quick to react, with some demanding the withdrawal of all the programmes in which she had appeared because there was “zero tolerance” over the issue, the Global Times reported.

The nationalist tabloid quoted a fan of animated films as saying: “Political issues cannot be compromised. How could she still want the Chinese market without respecting Chinese fans?”

People visit the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. Photo: AFP

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x