Takuya Kimura, one of Japan's most famous actors, had his cameo role in an upcoming Hong Kong film scrapped, local media reported. The decision comes amid worsening ties between China and Japan. Filming for the movie is set to begin later this month.
Takuya Kimura, a prominent figure in Japanese entertainment, was slated for a cameo in the third installment of the Hong Kong film series "Twilight of the Warriors," which has been popular in Japan. However, the casting was scrapped, according to a Friday report in the Sing Tao Daily. Kimura had agreed to the role and received the screenplay.
Filming is expected to start later this month, with another actor now joining the cast. The move comes against a backdrop of strained relations between China and Hong Kong. Since large-scale protests in 2019 evolved into a pro-democracy movement, Communist-led China has imposed tough measures on the region, intensifying censorship and undermining its de facto autonomy.
Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo have also escalated, particularly after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's November parliamentary statement indicating that Japan's defense forces could respond in a Taiwan emergency. Kimura, recognized for his time in the former pop group SMAP, remains a cultural icon with strong visibility across East Asia.
This cancellation highlights how political frictions between China and Japan are affecting the entertainment sector.