In a packed Shanghai sports bar, Chinese soccer fans erupted in frenzied delight as Japan's Ayase Ueda looped a header over Tunisia's goalkeeper to secure a 4-0 win in a World Cup group match.

China isn't the most obvious place for Japan fandom to thrive -- the two countries' historical animosity is never far from the surface and relations have been tense since hawkish Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office in Tokyo last year.

But for the dozens of blue-jerseyed Chinese supporters in the bar on Sunday afternoon glued to Japan's every move on massive screens, their love of the football team has a long personal history, completely detached from politics.

"For our generation -- the 90s generation -- most of us basically grew up watching a lot of Japanese anime, including 'Captain Tsubasa' (a series about a football prodigy)," said Fan, the group's main organizer, who gave only his surname. "More importantly, since we are both part of Asia, you could say that Japan now represents the pride and glory of Asian football."

China have only qualified once for the World Cup, in 2002, when they lost all three of their games without scoring a goal.

They are 91st in the FIFA world rankings, while Japan is the top Asian team at 16th.

Fu Jinyu, a long-time Japan fan who has written a book on the subject, said Japan has a modern soccer ecosystem supporting youth development and fan culture, and the team is now at "European-level competitiveness".

In contrast, "the Chinese are still struggling... not knowing what the correct path is", he said.

"Chinese football... has become increasingly insular and is simply not as open as it used to be," Jasper Sun, another of Fan's group, told AFP.

'Relatively open-minded'

On Sunday, as the final whistle blew, the group pulled out an enormous team flag and posed at the front of the bar, jumping up and down and cheering with joy.

Asked if they had ever encountered animosity from other Chinese people, both Fan and Sun shrugged it off.

"There will definitely be people like that, but personally, I don't really pay much attention to that kind of thing," said Fan.

Sun said he could understand why supporters in other regions might have concerns but that Shanghai was "relatively open-minded and inclusive".

When he had travelled, for example to watch Japan play China in Xiamen in 2024, he said he hadn't encountered problems. "Honestly, there wasn't much conflict... We all took the bus together at the time," he added.

Online interactions can be a different matter, as Aki Yang has found.

The 30-year-old, from eastern China, runs a social media fan page for the Japanese national team. She has attracted a growing number of followers -- and a growing amount of abuse, which she said she had "got used to".

"Some netizens say things online like, 'What sort of traitor or lackey are you?'" she said.

On the Instagram-like platform Xiaohongshu, one recent post gave advice on concealing the flag on Japanese jerseys, to "avoid embarrassment".

"Wear a helmet when you go out," another user posted.

'Bridge of friendship'

Student Julie Wang told AFP the comments she sees online mean she does not dare publicly express support for Japan. "I've noticed some arguing that supporting the Japanese team at this time is unpatriotic," she said.

Relations have been particularly fraught since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Tokyo might intervene militarily if Beijing were to invade self-governing Taiwan.

"Honestly, especially now when relations are more strained, I feel it's even more necessary for people like us to stand up," said Fan, the Shanghai supporters' group organizer. "My ultimate ideal -- my biggest dream -- is to help build a bridge of friendship between our two countries."

Despite the abuse she has received, Yang still believes soccer can "break down barriers".

"The world is so tumultuous today, football can set aside political identities and nationality, becoming simply a source of joy," she said.

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15 Comments
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tora June 24 05:59 pm JST

Good to see that JT is reporting some positive news about China for once.

milkshock June 24 06:13 pm JST

toraToday  05:59 pm JST

Good to see that JT is reporting some positive news about China for once.

Not really, it just shows the Chinese as hypocrites, latching on to a winner despite their true feelings.

Lifer June 24 07:20 pm JST

They're betting.

Making muchos diners.

mammola June 24 07:34 pm JST

is a bar in Shanghai a representative sample for all the population?? "All China is cheering for Japan"

Legrande June 24 08:47 pm JST

Yes refreshing to see a story which goes against the grain of constantly demonizing China as exclusively at fault etc.

The maturity to see beyond national boundaries these days is rather rare.

mii June 24 08:48 pm JST

Civilization is the same, civilized or not is different.

kaimycahl June 24 10:04 pm JST

This is all hope, until the games are over and then people soon for get and it become war games!

'Bridge of friendship'

1glenn June 24 10:47 pm JST

Looks like a cool sportsbar.

Ghost Pine June 24 10:55 pm JST

Great article. Nice people in that bar.

DaDude June 24 11:06 pm JST

Very awesome to see. As an American, I have been a fan of the Samurai Blue since 2002. I love the growth and strides the team has made.

I am surprised China hasn't hosted a WC yet. They've done other major events.

nandakandamanda June 24 11:44 pm JST

Heart-warming story.

On my trips to China I used to go and wander around the park in the evenings where I met so many friendly people. Nice to be reminded that people are human first and foremost.

lostrune2 Today 02:12 am JST

In contrast, "the Chinese are still struggling... not knowing what the correct path is", he said. "Chinese football... has become increasingly insular and is simply not as open as it used to be," Jasper Sun, another of Fan's group, told AFP.

Who else they gonna cheer for in China? There's nothing to cheer for the poor China team, lol

I am surprised China hasn't hosted a WC yet. They've done other major events.

Because even money-greedy FIFA is reluctant to give the WC to a country that's not competitive

Plus, can ya imagine how miserable the foreign fan experience will be because of the Great Firewall? Foreign fans can't even use their fav apps (because those are banned in China), access many foreign websites and forums, connect with their families and friends back home thru Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok (yes even TikTok is banned in China), etc.

Some of the best fun in this current WC is what's happening with foreign fans outside the stadiums - how they're discovering North America that they don't see on social media. For ex:

"World Cup visitors are going viral for their reactions to everyday American life"

https://abcnews.com/GMA/Living/world-cup-visitors-viral-reactions-everyday-american-life/story?id=133927192

As hundreds of thousands of international visitors descend on the United States for the 2026 World Cup, many are documenting more than just the action on the field. Across TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms, fans from around the world are sharing their reactions to uniquely American experiences, from sprawling supermarkets and self-serve ice dispensers to oversized pickup trucks, fire engines and what many describe as exceptionally friendly customer service. Fu noted that travelers increasingly use social media to highlight these unexpected discoveries rather than simply documenting major attractions, saying, "Travelers today want to show, 'Look what I discovered,' rather than simply posting another stadium selfie."

There'll be so many restrictions from having fun while traveling all over China; can't take photos and videos of anything China deems even just a little bit sensitive; can't drive thru rural dilapidated towns; China has to hide so many things that's embarrassing to them (remember what they did to hide the unsavory parts of Beijing like the ghetto and the homeless), etc.

It's one thing where everything is hosted in one place like the Olympics - when China can open a single "demilitarized zone" area that's outside the Great Firewall. But it's a whole another level when millions of foreign fans can be traveling all over the place and being watched by the CCP government

Tamarama Today 05:09 am JST

Oh wow, this goes against the prevailing narrative a little doesn't it?

That China is evil and all Chinese people are evil?

There's a few resident pundits who will be munching on their cereal extra hard this morning as they read this, I suspect.

TaiwanIsNotChina Today 06:38 am JST

TamaramaToday  05:09 am JST Oh wow, this goes against the prevailing narrative a little doesn't it? That China is evil and all Chinese people are evil? There's a few resident pundits who will be munching on their cereal extra hard this morning as they read this, I suspect.

Yes, we do know that it is the CCP that needs to be dead and buried.

Newgirlintown Today 06:43 am JST

Let’s hope that this country can learn from their example and extend China the same courtesy.

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Source: Japan Today