Change: A young man from a foreign land starts his dream of stardom
On a cold winter day in 1997, a thin Japanese young man came to the strange big city of Beijing alone. His name is Koji Yano, an ordinary high school graduate who came to China in the hope of finding his own theatrical path.
When he first came to the countryside, Yano Koji only had a small bag of luggage, a few sentences of broken Chinese, and a full of acting dreams in his chest. However, the reality of a foreign country is far more difficult than he imagined, he does not speak Chinese, let alone understand the culture of this country, everything is a new challenge for him.
In order to survive, Koji Yano had to do odd jobs everywhere, wander from street parks, and even spend the night on benches at the gym. During the day, he would do all kinds of manual work to earn money, and at night he would soak in the library and learn Chinese by himself.
No matter how difficult it was, he never gave up his love for theatre and worked hard to learn Xi local language and culture.
Finally, after four years of hard study in 2001, Koji Yano got his wish and got the opportunity to perform in an anti-Japanese drama. Although it was only a small role, it undoubtedly meant the dawn of his dream for him, marking his first milestone on the path of Chinese art.
Since then, he has frequently appeared in the image of the Japanese army in anti-Japanese dramas, and is nicknamed "devil professional".
Despite being controversial at first, as people got to know him better, Yano gradually won the public's acceptance. The young man in a foreign land has gone through hardships and finally found his place on the Avenue of Stars.
This is not only a new starting point for his acting career, but also a new chapter on the road of Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges.
Integration: Dominating the silver screen, a new chapter in Chinese life
After years of unremitting efforts, Koji Yano gradually became famous in the Chinese entertainment industry, and in 2008, he became one of the hosts of the famous program "Everyday Upward".
Although he was not favored by everyone at first, with his lively and lively hosting style, Koji Yano quickly won the love of a wide audience.
Gradually, Yano Koji has become a household name in China, and when he entered the palace of marriage with a Chinese girl in 2010, many fans blessed him with great blessings, and some even jokingly called him "Chinese son-in-law".
In order to better integrate into this big family, Koji Yano wears Chinese clothes and learns Chinese etiquette Xi make him look more like a local. The following year, he also specially applied for Chinese nationality for his daughter.
It can be said that at this time, Koji Yano was at the peak of his career. Not only did he become a household name, but he also gradually appreciated the charm of Chinese culture.
During the outbreak of the epidemic in 2020, he donated anti-epidemic materials to China as soon as possible, and also took the initiative to publish promotional videos on the Internet, calling on everyone to actively cooperate with epidemic prevention.
This undoubtedly brought him closer to the public.
If it weren't for the gaffes on the show later, it seems that everything could have been better. But that may be just a small episode in the journey of life, and the big ship of Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges will continue to sail to a brighter distance.
It is believed that through the experience of this wave of wind and waves, Koji Yano will definitely grow into a more qualified bridge and messenger between the two countries.
Overturned: Inappropriate language, popularity swirled
However, just when Yano's career was in full swing, an unexpected remark almost ruined the fruits of his years of struggle in China.
In 2022, Koji Yano participated in the recording of a Japanese variety show. When talking about his feelings about life in China, he reflected that it is common to see dogs walking in China without picking up excrement, which is very strange to him.
As a result, a remark that "Chinese are not qualified to raise dogs" detonated public opinion after the broadcast.
At first, Koji Yano did not realize the seriousness of the sentence. But soon, the hashtag "insulting China" quickly appeared on Weibo, and a large number of Chinese netizens went out en masse, accusing him of hurting people and discriminating against Chinese culture.
Some people even threatened to boycott the works he starred in, and the good image he had accumulated over the years in China fell apart in an instant.
After realizing the seriousness of the situation, Yano Koji hurriedly issued a public apology on social media, saying that his words were excessive and he did not mean to offend. He emphasized that he has always respected and loved Chinese culture, and hoped that everyone would not over-interpret it.
However, this did not quell the anger of netizens, but some people suspected that it was just his public relations tactic.
Under the pressure of public opinion, Yano Koji had to suspend his work in China and return to Japan to settle down. At this moment, the Japanese government's decision to discharge nuclear wastewater into the sea once again attracted attention, and netizens questioned Yano Koji's attitude, but he only posted a dancing video and was subjected to a new round of abuse.
It seems that the Chinese market, which he has carefully managed for many years, has come to naught overnight.
Choice: The road ahead is boundless, and the crisis of trust is difficult
This sudden public opinion turmoil undoubtedly put Koji Yano at a low point in his career. China's major video sites have removed his works, customers have canceled cooperation, and his reputation accumulated over the years in China has almost been ruined.
At the same time, the evaluation in Japan has also become polarized. Some patriots criticized him for over-pandering to the Chinese market; Other liberals see him bowing his head and admitting his mistakes as disrespectful to Japan's freedom of expression.
Caught between a dilemma, Koji Yano is in an unprecedented painful predicament.
In fact, Koji Yano did not really harbor prejudice or discrimination, he only emotionally expressed some incomprehension of Chinese society, but this also made him pay a heavy price.
The accumulation of years of careful management seems to be in vain in this storm of public opinion.
Rebuilding public trust will not be easy. Koji Yano realizes that simple verbal apologies are not enough, and he needs to prove himself through more practical actions.
So, he reached out to some Chinese culture experts, hoping that they could guide him to better understand the differences between the two countries.
At the same time, Koji Yano also actively responded to questions in Japan. He stressed that China has brought him a second home, and the help that the Chinese audience has given him over the years is equally important.
Even if it costs him, he will not easily give up his years of affection in China.
The road ahead is uncertain, and it will take longer for Koji Yano to rebuild the public's trust and goodwill towards him. However, he is determined to become a bridge and envoy of Sino-Japanese friendship and make his own contribution to the two peoples.
This is the foundation on which he has gained a foothold in this industry, and it is also the most precious spiritual wealth in his heart.
Enlightenment: Experience grows, friendship is eternal
Koji Yano has lived in China for more than 20 years, and he has experienced ups and downs, from a foreign boy to a household name; In another gaffe, he almost lost all popularity.
The implications of this are worth pondering.
First, it illustrates the complexities of intercultural communication. In this age of pluralism, we are coming into contact with different countries and cultures more and more frequently. Understanding them and embracing differences, rather than blindly judging, is the spirit we must learn Xi.
Koji Yano's gaffes may well stem from a certain lack of understanding of Chinese culture, which takes time to adjust.
Second, it also reflects the conundrum of freedom of expression. Koji Yano just revealed some of his true thoughts, but he got into trouble. This warns us of the need to maintain a rational and tolerant posture in this era of radicalism.
It is difficult to eliminate prejudice by condemnation alone, and more education and communication are needed.
Finally, this is also a small test of Sino-Japanese relations. While hostility and suspicion exist, mutual respect and understanding are the mainstream. Koji Yano is a beneficiary of this friendship, and he has made his own efforts for Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges.
Even with the occasional mistake, he can still be a messenger for future relationship development.
This oolong is undoubtedly a painful lesson for Koji Yano, but it can also show the direction of his future growth. I believe that after this experience, the stars and the public will be sublimated, and the tree of friendship between China and Japan will bear sweeter fruits.