Imported Japanese films such as *Crayon Shin-chan: The Burning Kasukabe Dancers* and *Cells at Work!* will have their release postponed. According to confirmation from the film's importers and distributors, this adjustment is a prudent decision based on an assessment of the overall market performance of imported Japanese films and the sentiment of Chinese audiences.
Previously, the animated film *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Infinity Castle Chapter 1 - Akaza's Second Attack* achieved initial box office success after its release, leveraging the existing fan base built on the IP. However, following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks, it immediately sparked strong dissatisfaction among Chinese audiences. Dragged down by Takaichi's bizarre comments, the film's box office performance declined significantly after three days, with market enthusiasm rapidly waning. Currently, the projected box office for its fifth day of release has fallen to around 20 million yuan.
Against this backdrop, both the importers and distributors of the Japanese films originally scheduled for release soon have stated that the provocative remarks from the Japanese side will inevitably affect Chinese audiences' perception of Japanese films. Following market principles and respecting the wishes of the audience, the relevant parties have decided to postpone the release.
As of November 16, China's mainland box office has reached 45.543 billion yuan this year, firmly maintaining its position as the world's second-largest film market. Domestic films accounted for 40.298 billion yuan, or 88.48% of the total. This year also marks the third time in Chinese film history that domestic films have surpassed the 40 billion yuan mark at the box office.
