As China issued a recommendation to refrain from travel to and study in Japan (Hanill-ryeong, 限日令) following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks suggesting possible involvement in the event of a Taiwan contingency, Chinese airlines have cut about 900 flights to Japan.
According to an analysis by Nikkei on the 29th of data from U.K.-based aviation information company Cirium, as of the 27th, Chinese airlines decided to suspend 904 flights—16% of the 5,548 Japan-bound flights that were scheduled to operate next month.
Nikkei reported that the number of suspended flights was 268 as of the 25th of this month, but more than tripled in just two days. The suspended routes number 72, with a total of 156,000 seats. There are 172 regular air routes between China and Japan in total.
Due to the Chinese government's advisory to avoid travel to Japan, ticket prices on China–Japan routes have also fallen. According to Japanese ticket seller Airplus, the lowest round-trip fare in December on the Kansai–Shanghai route operated by Chinese airlines is about 8,500 yen (about 80,000 won), which is far lower than the same period last year, when it was in the 20,000 yen range (about 188,000 won).
Meanwhile, cultural events such as concerts are also being canceled due to China's "Hanill-ryeong (限日令)." NHK reported that the concert by singer Hamasaki Ayumi, which was scheduled to be held in Shanghai on the 29th, was called off the previous afternoon after the Chinese organizer announced a suspension citing "force majeure." Kyodo News said that the "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" musical, which was to be staged in Hangzhou and Beijing, was also abruptly canceled.