The Chinese government is tightening regulations on the entertainment and gaming industries.
Among them, the target is fan clubs such as idols.
Why are activities that support your favorite idols subject to regulation?
What is the aim of the Xi Jinping administration, which makes the industry seemingly unrelated to politics at first glance?
I will explain it in an easy-to-understand manner.
(Interview Group Shanghai Branch / Akihito Yanagihara, Takashi Kobayashi, Guangzhou Branch / Hiroshi Takashima, NW9 / Yosuke Okabe, International Department / Kazuyuki Kenhata)
What does regulation on the entertainment world do?
In August, the Chinese government banned the "popular ranking" of celebrities and idols, the so-called "voting" by fans, and the sending of money to idols online by minors. , So-called "throwing money".
In addition, we prohibit the appointment of entertainers who are far from the Communist Party and the nation to TV stations, and prohibit the broadcasting of idol training programs.
Why are regulations tightened in the entertainment world?
It seems that the background is that the activities of enthusiastic fans are overheating.
In September, to celebrate the birthday of Korean male idol group BTS Jimin, Chinese fans solicited funds and called for a plan to fly an airplane with a photo of Jimin's face.
With the support of many fans, we raised about 40 million yen in Japanese yen in just one hour.
However, due to a series of criticisms on the Internet, the situation was set on fire, and the authorities suspended the accounts of fans of the Chinese version of Twitter.
There are other flames associated with popular idols.
At a popular audition program in China, fans buy a lot of dairy products that give them the right to vote for the idols they want to support.
The video of discarding the contents in the drain without drinking was spread on SNS, and it became a situation of burning.
It seems that the numerous regulations issued this time were aimed at calming the overheating of these fans.
Why is the Chinese government targeting the entertainment world?
It has been pointed out that the "popular ranking" of entertainers and idols and the "voting behavior" by fans are reminiscent of democratic elections and may lead to criticism of the Chinese Communist Party's one-party rule.
Also, regarding fan clubs, it is believed that they are wary of the fact that groups are formed in places where the government does not control them, and that there are criticisms of the government.
What do your fans think?
This time, when I interviewed young idol fans, they showed me an SNS site where fans gather to exchange information.
Not only messages supporting idols, but also statements criticizing the government and Chinese society were scattered there.
During
"It's like the Cultural Revolution. Country is one of the voice not only forgiven,"
"Chinese society has long ago finished. No one heard the voice of the common people."
There was up to things like.
What is the Chinese government's speculation?
Professor Tomoko Ako of the University of Tokyo graduate school said, "When people with common interests gather from nowhere, they become a group. If they are organized, there will be people who take various actions as a group. Maybe there will be a lot of opposition to the policies of the Communist Party of China. If the government tends to be out of control, I would like to pluck the buds in advance, "he said. increase.
Why are the regulations in the game industry?
It seems to be the same reason as the entertainment world.
Online games also have in common that many young people connect on the Internet.
The Chinese government announced in August that it would introduce regulations for minors.
The service can be provided by the company only from Friday to Sunday and legal holidays, and the time is 1 hour from 8 pm to 9 pm.
The reason is explained as "to prevent young people from becoming dependent on games", but it seems that there is also a caution against the gathering of an unspecified number of people outside the control of the government.
What is the impact of the tightening of regulations?
Immediately, the field of "e-sports", in which games are competed as competitions, is being affected.
China is a major market for online games, and the industry has been confused because it has been making national efforts to foster e-sports.
At a vocational school in Shanghai that trains professional game players interviewed by NHK, about 100 young people, including minors, used to take more than 12 hours of classes every day while living in dormitories.
However, due to the introduction of regulations, classes are no longer established and about 80% of the students have dropped out, so it is said that the school has to be closed.
Affects game production companies
It seems that not only the target age and time of the game, but also the content is beginning to be affected.
A person in charge of a Chinese game production company interviewed was working on a game with a religious motif, but one day suddenly received a notice from the authorities.
It said, "It must not be something that suggests religion, and the color of religion must be zero."
It wasn't clear why it was banned from using religion as a motif, but the person in charge is in a hurry to change the story and characters of the game.
The person in charge was confused, "If freedom of expression is strictly controlled, the original enjoyment of the game will be lost. It would be strange for the government to intervene to this extent."
What is the impact on Japan, where the game industry is thriving?
Professor Ako said, "Since the Chinese authorities are very cautious about ideas coming in from overseas, there is a possibility that the view on Japan will become stricter under such circumstances," he said, and it will affect not only the game industry but also the entire cultural exchange in the future. I point out that it may come out.