Chinese media criticize Japanese drama over depiction of torture scenes

Chinese state media have launched criticism against the Japanese drama series 'Vivant' for its depiction of torture scenes, arguing the content risks deepening hostility between Beijing and Tokyo. The condemnation reflects ongoing sensitivities regarding historical grievances and contemporary relations between the two countries, which have been strained over territorial disputes, trade tensions, and historical interpretations.

State-controlled Chinese news outlets have characterized the violent imagery in the program as deliberately provocative, suggesting the scenes serve to reinforce negative perceptions of China among Japanese audiences. The criticism represents part of a broader pattern of scrutiny that Chinese media applies to foreign entertainment content deemed offensive to national interests or historical narratives.

'Vivant,' which aired on Japan's Nippon Television, depicts a corporate thriller storyline set partly in foreign locations. The series gained significant viewership in Japan, though international reception has varied. Chinese media's intervention underscores the political dimensions of entertainment content in East Asia, where television productions occasionally become flashpoints for diplomatic tensions.

The controversy highlights the challenges faced by content creators operating in markets where entertainment programming intersects with nationalist sentiment and historical memory. Such disputes have occurred periodically between Japan and China, reflecting deeper divisions over how each nation portrays the other and shared historical events.