Pretending to be Japanese in China: A Trend of Fabricated Videos Exploiting Nationalism
Beijing, China – A recent trend on Chinese social mediaplatforms has emerged, featuring videos of individuals pretending to be Japanese while shopping in China, often eliciting negative reactions from Chinese vendors and passersby.While these videos are presented as humorous social experiments, they have sparked concerns about their potential to stoke anti-Japanese sentiment and perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
The videostypically involve individuals, often young Chinese, approaching Chinese vendors or customers with a Japanese accent, sometimes even introducing themselves as Japanese. They then film the reactions, often focusing on expressions of surprise, anger, or even hostility from the Chinese individuals.Some videos even feature fabricated scenarios, such as vendors refusing to sell to Japanese customers or charging them exorbitant prices.
This trend has been widely criticized for its deliberate manipulation of nationalistic sentiments. Critics argue that the videos are not genuinesocial experiments but rather a form of entertainment that exploits existing tensions between China and Japan for views and engagement.
These videos are not about understanding cultural differences or promoting cross-cultural exchange, said Liu Silang, a prominent Chinese commentator, in a recent article published on the website Wuyou Zhixiang. Theyare about exploiting the existing anti-Japanese sentiment in China for personal gain.
Liu further points out that the videos often portray Chinese people as xenophobic and hostile towards foreigners, a stereotype that is not only inaccurate but also harmful to China’s international image. He argues that the creators of these videos are consuming patriotism andusing it as a tool for entertainment, ultimately undermining the genuine feelings of national pride among Chinese citizens.
This trend has also raised concerns about the potential for real-world consequences. Some experts worry that these videos could incite real-world discrimination and hostility towards Japanese individuals living in China.
While these videos arepresented as harmless entertainment, they can have real-world consequences, said Professor Li Wei, a sociologist at Peking University. They can create a climate of mistrust and prejudice that can lead to real-world discrimination and violence.
The Chinese government has also taken notice of this trend. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the country’s internet regulator, has issued warnings against the spread of fake news and harmful content online, including videos that exploit nationalistic sentiments.
The pretending to be Japanese trend is not the first instance of social media content exploiting nationalistic sentiments in China. In recent years, therehave been numerous instances of videos and articles spreading misinformation and promoting anti-Western sentiment.
This trend highlights the growing influence of social media in shaping public opinion and the challenges of regulating online content in a way that promotes responsible discourse and avoids the spread of harmful stereotypes.
It remains to be seen whether this trend will continueor fade away. However, the controversy surrounding these videos serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible content creation and the potential for social media to be used to manipulate public opinion and sow discord.
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