China cultural festival in Tokyo bustles despite frayed ties

TOKYO - The Chinese Cultural Festival commenced on Saturday at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, attracting throngs of visitors to its booths featuring Chinese cuisine and panda memorabilia, despite the significant deterioration in relations between China and Japan. Former Japanese Ambassador to China Yuji Miyamoto, chair of the organizing committee, expressed hope that the event could serve as a foundation for improving bilateral ties during the two-day festival.

Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao conveyed his wishes for attendees to appreciate the progress China has made in the new era through a video message. While the Chinese Embassy had previously co-hosted the annual event with the ambassador acting as head of the organizing committee, this year, it participated solely as a supporter, as reported by the committee.

The strained relations between the two Asian nations intensified following remarks made by Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in parliament last year. Takaichi suggested a potential military response from Japan in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan, a self-governed democracy claimed by Beijing.

Kaori Sasaki, a devoted admirer of Xiang Xiang, a panda born in Japan and later returned to China, purchased a clear file folder featuring the black-and-white animal. Sasaki expressed her intention to visit China in the future to see Xiang Xiang and shared her interest in Chinese food culture.