Amid rising Sino-Japanese tensions, a petition to block aespa from NHK’s Kohaku event heats up, with political frictions spilling into the entertainment world.

Following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takai about possible military involvement in a Taiwan contingency, tensions between China and Japan have intensified and extended into the entertainment industry. In China, a fan meeting for a Japanese group was canceled, while in Japan a petition demanding aespa—which includes a Chinese member—be barred from appearances has gained traction.

The petition to block aespa from appearing on NHK’s Kohaku Uta Gassen has drawn considerable support, reportedly rising to around 70,000 signatures. Petition supporters argued that Kohaku is a major official event in Japan and that endorsing statements lacking historical awareness would harm Japan’s international image and wound the victims of the Hiroshima bombing.

Comments accompanying the petition included objections against featuring an idol who had once drawn a nuclear-bomb-like lighting on stage, suggesting it should not be allowed to appear at a national festival. As reports emerged that aespa was slated to perform on Kohaku, a Change.org petition was launched on 17 November to obstruct the appearance.

Beyond Korea and Japan, Chinese entertainers with ties to mainland China—such as MARiA and Koji Yano—publicly stated positions supporting the “One China” principle in efforts to sustain activities in Mainland China, reflecting the broader political pressure surrounding the entertainment industry. These statements were interpreted by observers as attempts to align with mainland audiences amid intensified cross-strait tensions.

The broader geopolitical tension traceable to Takai’s Taiwan comment on 7 November has led to renewed pressures on Japan, including travel advisories and film screenings restrictions. Domestic critics have voiced concerns, though Takai has indicated no intention to retract his remarks, signaling a potential prolongation of the standoff. As the Sino-Japanese dispute permeates culture and entertainment, aespa’s ability to perform on major stages may become a barometer of the evolving relationship between the two nations.