133: Japanese pop culture in China: It's complicated.

Despite having played a major role entertaining Chinese citizens following the Cultural Revolution, Japanese musicians are finding it increasingly difficult to grab a toehold in the region thanks to government censors and somewhat militant netizens.

This week, Japan Times contributing writer Patrick St. Michel joins the podcast to discuss notable moments in the two countries’ cultural exchanges, the intricacies of doing business in China and why Japanese music is having as tough of a time in the broader international market.

Read more:

• Big in China, but can the party last for Japan’s artists? • (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times)

• China’s box office becomes a giant headache for Hollywood • (Shirley Zhao and Christopher Palmeri, Bloomberg)

• How TikTok resurrected a Japanese pop star’s defining hit • (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times)

On this episode:

Patrick St. Michel: Articles | Twitter

Jason Jenkins: Articles | Twitter

Transcript: We have recently begun experimenting with transcripts for episodes of Deep Dive. A full transcript of this episode is available on The Japan Times website. Find transcripts useful? Tips for improvement? Contact us to let us know.

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Photo: Eclectic Japanese rock band Chai has made some inroads into China's lucrative entertainment industry. | TERAO BUDHA