The box office success was not enough to save the demon hunters from geopolitics. On December 11, the film Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle: Part 1 – Akaza Returns experienced its last day of screening in China. Despite recording record numbers, distributor Aniplex confirmed that the exhibition period was not extended, an unusual decision for a success of this caliber that points directly to the growing diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.
According to data from the specialized application Maoyan Pro, in the 28 days since its premiere on November 14, the film grossed more than 675 million yuan (approximately 15 billion yen). Normally, blockbusters in China receive screening extensions, but this was not the case. On Chinese social media, fans lamented the decision: "I haven't seen it yet, it's too early for it to end."
The Sanae Takaichi Effect
The root cause appears to be Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's stance on a potential contingency in Taiwan, which has accelerated a trend of "Japan exclusion" in the Chinese entertainment sector. Kimetsu no Yaiba is not the only victim: the premieres of the new films by Crayon Shin-chan and Hataraku Saibou (*Cells at Work!*), which were already scheduled, have been suspended indefinitely.
