On August 5, 2025, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the war against Japan, released several so-called “patriotic films” during the summer break. One of the highly popular films, “The Nanjing Studio,” has been accused of inciting anti-Japanese sentiments. Particularly concerning is the negative impact on Chinese children, with reports of children smashing Japan on the map using various tools or expressing intentions to harm Japanese people after watching the film. Scholars indicate that behind this movie lies the CCP’s hidden political agenda.
The film “The Nanjing Studio” premiered on August 4 and by that day, the real-time total box office revenue had reached 1.57 billion Chinese yuan.
The movie depicts a 15-year-old apprentice working in a photo studio in Nanjing. While developing two rolls of film brought in by a Japanese military officer, he discovers photos of atrocities committed by the Japanese army, including massacres, rape, and looting. He risks his life to preserve dozens of photos and creates a book of 16 key images that played a crucial role in the 1946 trial of Japanese war criminals.
Japanese veteran media personality, Yaita Akio, pointed out discrepancies in the film, arguing that the movie, allegedly based on real historical events, contains illogical and contradictory elements. He mentioned that during that period, Japanese military photographers focused on capturing images of brave Japanese soldiers and the positive interactions with local civilians, rather than intentionally filming Japanese soldiers abusing civilians. Therefore, he suggests that the movie is a work of fiction.
Due to the connection of “The Nanjing Studio” to the history of the Nanjing Massacre, Chinese social media platforms are flooded with hateful comments towards Japan. Some netizens expressing differing opinions from the mainstream patriotic sentiments face backlash or even reports.
Concerning behaviors of children showing hatred towards Japan after watching the film have raised alarms.
On August 2, a mother in Anhui province uploaded a video of her child aggressively attacking Japan on a map using various tools, claiming that the child had only watched a segment of “The Nanjing Studio.”
A self-media personality known as “Sydney Dad” posted on X platform that with the help of a friend, he compiled dozens of children’s reactions to the film from Little Red Book and Douyin. One video showed a young girl crying and saying, “Kill all the Japanese.”
Some netizens expressed sorrow after watching videos of children crying, expressing anger, or expressing violent thoughts towards Japanese people after watching “The Nanjing Studio.” They emphasized the importance of condemning all forms of aggression and massacre, while also questioning the indoctrination by the CCP over generations.
A 9-year-old boy in Henan province tore up his collection of Japanese anime cards in anger after watching “The Nanjing Studio.”
Following incidents such as the stabbing in Suzhou in June last year and the fatal stabbing of a 10-year-old Japanese boy in Shenzhen, on July 31 this year, a Japanese mother was injured in Suzhou metro station amid similar attacks using objects resembling stones. These incidents are believed to be linked to the CCP’s promotion of anti-Japanese sentiments and propaganda.
Recently, Japanese residents in China have warned friends planning to visit China that the situation is deteriorating due to the film “The Nanjing Studio,” which has incited a new wave of anti-Japanese sentiment. They suggest avoiding crowded places in China, even in Japan.
Mr. Liang, a Chinese living in Tokyo for many years, voiced concerns about Chinese primary school students watching “The Nanjing Studio” and subsequently expressing violent sentiments towards Japanese people. He attributed such outcomes to disaster and linked the attack on a Japanese mother and child in Suzhou on July 31 to the CCP’s educational practices.
Liang highlighted the strong emphasis on age-appropriateness in historical education in European countries and questioned the absence of a film classification system in China. He suspected a “hidden agenda” on the part of the CCP.
Zeng Jianyuan, a director at the Taiwan Chinese Democratic Academy, emphasized the importance of setting aside historical animosities to foster peace in the region. He criticized the CCP for perpetuating anti-Japanese sentiment to manipulate alliances and challenge universal values, describing the political motives behind “The Nanjing Studio.”
Historian Li Yuanhua, currently residing in Australia, accused the CCP of manipulating anti-Japanese and anti-American sentiments to divert internal conflicts and suppress dissent. He suggested that the movie serves to fabricate lies to cover up the CCP’s collaboration with Japan during the war and its dark deeds.
The exploitation of the war theme by the CCP through this film operates as a channel to incite anti-Japanese and anti-American sentiments among the Chinese populace, aiming to challenge global value systems. This underscores the political scheme underlying “The Nanjing Studio.”
The continuous instigation of anti-Japanese and anti-American feelings by the CCP is viewed as a tactic to shift domestic conflicts. Li Yuanhua asserted that this isn’t solely due to the movie released recently; such manipulation has been a long-standing strategy of the CCP.
He pointed out that Japan has consistently provided support to China through various projects and financial aid, such as the establishment of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing, funded entirely by the Japanese. However, the CCP fails to acknowledge such deeds, perpetuating animosity instead.
According to Li Yuanhua, the release of the film “The Nanjing Studio” is a means for the CCP to distort the true history of the war period, given the Party’s collaboration with Japan during the conflict and its subsequent fabrication of lies over the years.