Fandom vs flag: why young Chinese embrace Japanese pop culture but reject war-era symbols

What happened: Chinese students at Moscow State University confronted a classmate wearing Japan's rising sun flag in class and called for his repatriation, according to the Global Times. Why it matters: The incident illustrates how young Chinese people embrace Japanese pop culture such as anime and music while rejecting symbols of Japanese militarism, which many countries including China view as a symbol of aggression.

Chinese students at Moscow State University confronted a classmate wearing Japan's rising sun flag in class and called for his repatriation, according to the Global Times.

The incident illustrates how young Chinese people embrace Japanese pop culture such as anime and music while rejecting symbols of Japanese militarism, which many countries including China view as a symbol of aggression.