On December 3, 2025, the Japanese pop diva Ayumi Hamasaki was supposed to perform in Shanghai on November 29. However, the organizers abruptly canceled the concert citing “uncontrollable factors” after the stage was set up. Despite this, she led her dance troupe and crew in a “concert with no audience” in the empty arena as a tribute to the 14,000 fans who were supposed to attend. On December 1, Ayumi Hamasaki revealed on her fan club that she had just returned to Japan. In a fiery post, the president of her record company, “Avex”, Masato Matsuura, criticized the Chinese Communist Party.
Even though Chinese state media quoted a supposed staff member of Ayumi Hamasaki’s Shanghai concert who issued an apology statement, claiming that the rumors of her performing alone were false as it was captured during rehearsals, the photographs she posted on Facebook and Instagram tell a different story. In the images, she is seen fully made up with her dance group, in multiple dazzling outfits, amidst vibrant stage lighting and swirling paper flowers, far from a mere rehearsal setup.
Netizens have been quick to criticize the so-called “apology statement”: “Can they really try to dismiss this with such a ludicrous excuse? It insults our intelligence!” one user commented. Another mockingly questioned, “Are they going to claim next that ‘she herself didn’t know she was singing’?”.
In reality, Ayumi Hamasaki’s longtime collaborator, the beautician Tomoki Takano, witnessed the performance firsthand. In an Instagram story, Takano described how Ayumi Hamasaki repeatedly called out “Shanghai” to the empty seats and smiled warmly, scanning the entire venue as she always does. Takano praised Ayumi Hamasaki’s professionalism, calling the performance a legendary concert that will be celebrated by future generations.
The CCP’s erratic actions have sparked widespread condemnation. On December 1, Avex’s president, Masato Matsuura, vented his feelings on X, stating, “The night before the Shanghai performance, everything collapsed silently. ‘As scary as killing a chicken to warn monkeys,’ this sentence that suddenly came out somewhere has been haunting me. Watching adults being forced into a corner step by step, it was so heavy that it made me tremble at a single touch. Those days felt like wandering in a movie.” He concluded his post with the hashtags “Ayumi Hamasaki,” “Shanghai,” and “emotional trauma”.
Some internet users questioned, “If they knew it would be canceled, why did they proceed with the event?” President Matsuura responded, “The local organizers kept assuring us of the event, but on the day itself, it was abruptly announced without any room for negotiation.”
Previously, Ayumi Hamasaki, who was in Shanghai at the time, shared photos on Facebook and Instagram of her performing on stage and taking a bow in Shanghai. She wrote, “Although there were 14,000 empty seats in the venue, I deeply felt the overflowing love from fans all over the world. For me, this performance has become one of the most unforgettable stages. A heartfelt thank you to the 200 Chinese and Japanese staff members, musicians, and dancers. It was all of you who made this stage possible.”