Japan envoy in China a hit among local fans
BEIJING—Japanese Ambassador to China Kenji Kanasugi has been sharing his cultural experiences such as sampling Chinese delicacies and trying his hand at making crafts on his social media account even amid a diplomatic row between the two Asian countries.
Since opening his personal account on Weibo—China’s version of X—in April 2024, he has amassed 255,000 followers. Kanasugi is one of few diplomats based in Beijing to directly reach out to local citizens via the social media platform.
Kanasugi, who also frequently posted on Instagram about his life in Indonesia while posted there between 2020 and 2023, said he believes communicating directly with locals through social media is “an effective form of public diplomacy.”
While bilateral relations remain tense following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on a Taiwan contingency in November, the envoy said his social media approach has remained the same.
“I want Chinese people to know that I’m enjoying life here in China and that Japan has attractive locations. That’s why I keep doing this,” he said.
In the wake of Takaichi’s comments in parliament that suggested the involvement of the Japanese defense forces in the event of an attack on Taiwan, China has increased pressure on Japan, implementing trade restrictions and urging its citizens to avoid traveling to the neighboring country.
