Late last Saturday night (December 6th) (Japan time), I watched the TV broadcast of the Table Tennis Mixed Team World Cup. It's a new event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
I'm not a table tennis fan; I just happened to tune in.
I watched the final match of the second round, a live broadcast of Japan vs. France.
Japan had already advanced to the semifinals (the semifinals are Japan vs. Germany and China vs. South Korea), and France had already been eliminated from the qualifying round, so it was a dead giveaway for both teams.
But both the French and Japanese teams were fighting seriously.
Even as an amateur, I could tell that the French team, the "French Revolutionary Brothers" (the meaning of which I'm not sure...), were strong. France won.
As I watched, I thought, "Since this is a dead giveaway for Japan, it would be fine to let France have the glory in the final match."
However, the atmosphere inside the stadium was strange. Throughout the long match, every time a French player scored a point, there were thunderous cheers of joy. Whenever a Japanese player scored even a single point, the entire packed arena (mostly women) erupted in raucous booing. Every single person in the arena booed at the same time and with the same style. They were perfectly synchronized. The audience wasn't French, but all Chinese.
Most of the crowd filling the arena were likely either "Sakura" (Shill, Lockvogel, fake customer) for the Communist government or Communist Party members. Many of Japan's top players play in China's professional leagues, so persistent booing, yelling, and verbal abuse are unlikely behavior for the average table tennis fan.
If you're a baseball fan, even if you personally dislike Mexicans or think Cuba is America's enemy, would you continue to boo Mexican or Cuban players from the start of a game until the end in WBC? You'd probably end up exhausted more than the players. If you did that, you wouldn't enjoy the game at all, even though you've spent a lot of money on transportation and tickets to come and watch.
The Chinese spectators filling the venue were extremely enthusiastic, constantly booing with all their might. It must have been hard work.
Those who watched on TV or YouTube will have noticed that almost the entire packed audience in the venue was made up of people of the same age. It seems unnatural. This was the World Cup held in a major city, and an international match for table tennis, China's "national sport" (because Mao Zedong loved it).
And yet, among the throngs of spectators filling the spacious stands, there was not a single child. No elderly people. No foreigners. Only young women.
It was clear that the Communist government had bought up all the tickets and mobilized a specific group of people. Since there was no "evidence" (if they spoke out, they would be socially ostracized), the mass media was not reporting it.
It seemed that these women had not come to watch a table tennis match, but rather had made the effort to come to the venue out of a desire to "feel good by hurting people from an 'enemy country,'" and to "show the Japanese people how badly they are beating up Japanese people by having their scenes broadcast on Japanese television."
Watching their behavior on live Japanese television, we felt pity for them.
Incidentally, just before the match, the French president had visited China and met with the Chinese president. Apparently, the French president did not mention the Taiwan issue, but France's playful diplomacy toward China, known as "independent diplomacy," dates back to the de Gaulle administration.
The following day, on Sunday night, December 7th (Japan time), the semi-final match was being broadcast live on television. Japan vs. Germany. I'm not a table tennis fan and just happened to be watching, but I watched it thinking, "It would have been more interesting if the match had been closer. I wish Germany had tried a little harder." The match was one-sidedly dominated by the Japanese team.
Just like the day before, the packed Chinese audience (mostly women) cheered loudly for the German players, roaring wildly every time a German player scored a point. In turn, the women booed wildly every time a Japanese player scored a point. This continued from the very start of the match.
Furthermore, a while ago, the Chinese Foreign Minister met with his Russian counterpart and spoke of the "achievements of World War II." Last month, the Chinese President apparently called the US President and spoke of "victory over totalitarianism," "victory over fascism," and "common values."
The above matches were also likely broadcast in France, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore and other countries. Were the table tennis fans in France, Germany, Singapore and Hong Kong who watched the matches on TV or online videos pleased?
The Chinese Communist Party's cheerleading squad spent the whole day in the gym booing. (The Japanese team played against other teams, including China, before their match against France on December 6th. They also faced China in the final on December 7th.)
It was very hard work.
As expected of Communism！
Thank you for your tough job 💔
【The ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025: Chengdu, China】 will be held from Sunday, November 30th to Sunday, December 7th, 2025
Broadcast daily on TV Tokyo
U-NEXT will exclusively stream all Japan matches live.
The Table Tennis Channel (YouTube) also streams live some of the foreign matches.
U-NEXT: https://tvtokyo.tv/4pmYE1d
YouTube: https://tvtokyo.tv/49sl24y
Jun Mizutani testified about the strangeness of Harimoto's verbal abuse in China: "That was horrible. Those words are completely unacceptable." Outside the venue, caution is exercised.
December 9 (Tue) 1:26 PM：Daily Sports
629 comments
Jun Mizutani, former member of the Japanese men's national table tennis team, appeared on TBS's "Hiruobi" program on the 9th. He spoke about the discomfort he felt while covering the Table Tennis Mixed Team World Cup, which took place in Chengdu, China, until the 7th.
[Video] Extremely discriminatory support for China: Loud cheers for Korea, blatant sighs for Japan
The tournament was held amid tense Japan-China relations. In the match against France on the 6th, Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto, facing LeBlanc, was booed repeatedly by the crowd, but loud cheers erupted whenever France scored.
A yell of "Damn you who support Japan!" was heard from the crowd, forcing LeBlanc to start over as he was about to serve. Mizutani, who also covered the match at the venue, said, "It wasn't heckling, it was verbal abuse. It was the most horrible language I've ever heard at any venue. The players were also shaken. I thought those words were truly unacceptable. After that (the verbal abuse of "Damn you who support Japan!"), the venue erupted in excitement..."
He also reported that "No matter which country Japan was playing, cheers rang out every time the opponent scored." Regarding Harimoto, there was also a mistake when her sister, Miwa Harimoto, was announced twice during the player introductions on the 5th.
Mizutani revealed that she was taking precautions during the tournament, such as "avoiding going out on the town, not speaking much Japanese, and not letting anyone know she was Japanese when walking outside the venue by not passing the ball."
Last updated: 12/9 (Tue) 16:26
Daily Sports
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2cf05a0aea6432f9b04cf5545cc145d6290adf89
【Table Tennis World Cup】 The influence of Japan-China relations is strong... Huge cheers for Japan's opponents. "Go for it!" resonates in South Korea. A sigh of relief at Japan's victory.
December 5, 2025
Table Tennis Mixed Team World Cup (December 5, Chengdu)
Due to the deterioration of Japan-China relations, Japan is being forced to play in a completely away atmosphere at this tournament. The crowd erupted in cheers during Korea's points. A chorus of "Go, go!" echoed throughout the venue. Even when Togami and Shinozuka won the first game in the men's doubles, securing Japan's victory, sighs of "Ah," and many spectators were seen immediately standing up and leaving.
https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2025/12/05/0019783510.shtml
Daily Sports
Excerpt
【Table Tennis】 Japan's Tokyo Olympic gold medalist said, "I don't want anyone to know I'm Japanese." Covering the China World Cup.
December 9 (Tue) 3:14 PM：Nikkan Sports
Regarding the political and economic pressure from China since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Diet response on November 7, Mizutani (Tokyo Olympic gold medalist) said, "I was more tense than usual. Even before traveling, I avoided going out in the city, didn't speak Japanese, and even removed my pass when leaving the venue, so as not to reveal that I was Japanese."
Last updated: December 9 (Tue) 4:09 PM
Nikkan Sports
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/37a13ca48b6f156f88e32598d61971ac4c2ff8d9
Excerpt
【Table Tennis World Cup】 "Damn anyone who supports Japan!" Abusive language used against Tomokazu Harimoto in China.
Posted on Wednesday, December 10th at 11:45 AM：J-CAST News
2,045 comments
Amid rising tensions between Japan and China following Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks about a Taiwan emergency, abusive language was reported from spectators at the Table Tennis Mixed Team World Cup, held in Chengdu, China, from November 30th to December 7th.
[Photo] Tomokazu Harimoto's expression as he was forced to play while being verbally abused by spectators at the Chinese venue.
■An uneasy atmosphere of constant surveillance
Mizutani played in the Chinese Super League from 2008 to 2010.
Mizutani confessed that he felt more nervous than usual attending this year's World Cup.
He recalled, "I was careful not to go out on the streets and not speak much Japanese."
He also revealed that even after arriving in China, "there was an uneasy atmosphere of constant surveillance." He revealed that TV station staff were taken into a separate room and forced to take saliva tests.
What Mizutani found odd was the behavior of the crowd at the stadium. When Harimoto Tomokazu played against a French player, there were loud cheers when he made a mistake. When he scored, there were boos. A French player posted on social media, "We really felt sorry for Tomokazu today. It was painful to see him in that situation."
Mizutani was outraged, saying, "In addition to booing and heckling, there was also abusive language. This is unacceptable behavior." While Harimoto was playing, a young woman shouted, "Damn anyone who supports Japan!" and the stadium erupted in response, with insults flying everywhere. This happened repeatedly. Play was stopped multiple times.
Last updated: 12/10 (Wed) 15:49
J-CAST News
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6c7b6533c02022de3fb55faa44bd4bd7119fe8c1
Excerpt
【Table Tennis】 Tensions in China are rising. Staff undergo mysterious testing upon entry.
Published 12/9 (Tue) 6:41 PM：Sponichi Annex
102 comments
Staff who arrived in China reportedly were taken to a separate room upon entry. "When the TV station staff entered the country, they were taken to a separate room and required to undergo a saliva test. It took a long time to enter the country." Last updated: December 9th (Tue) 7:00 PM
Sponichi Annex
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/1e1ee3c0755f191eee7e650f61777a0311b9b40c
Excerpt
【Table Tennis】 Tomokazu Harimoto "Treaten like an Outsider in His Hometown," Booed and Missed Calls...Chinese Media Reports: "The 22-Year-Old Remained Silent Even in a Completely Unfamiliar Environment,"
December 9th (Tue) 4:45 PM：J-CAST News
132 Comments
Chinese media outlet Sohu (Web Edition) ran a feature article on the 2025 Table Tennis Mixed Team World Cup (W Cup) held in Chengdu, China, reporting that Japan national team player Tomokazu Harimoto (Toyota Motor Corporation, 22) "was treated like an outsider despite returning to his 'hometown.'"
[Video] After Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto loses a point, the Chinese cheering squad erupts in thunderous cheers.
■ "My name was called out twice during the pre-match call-outs."
The Mixed Team World Cup kicked off in Chengdu, China, on November 30th.
Due to the deterioration of Japan-China relations, the Japanese team faced a tough battle in a "completely away" environment. Men's star player Harimoto was particularly booed by the local crowd every time he played.
Sohu published an article titled "What was going through the mind of 22-year-old Tomokazu Harimoto, who remained silent despite the boos of the entire crowd?", looking back on Harimoto's performance at the tournament.
The article explained, "The mixed team World Cup in Chengdu was a particularly tough match for 22-year-old Tomokazu Harimoto. Despite returning to his hometown, the Japanese player from Sichuan Province was treated like an outsider and booed by the crowd. His name was omitted twice during the pre-match call-out. This situation left the spectators with mixed emotions."
The "pre-match call" mentioned in the article refers to the "trouble" that occurred during the match against South Korea on the 5th.
Booing from the crowd and "taunts" with hands over ears.
As the Japanese players were being called in order during the pre-match introductions, when it was Harimoto's turn, "Miwa Harimoto" was called out. Given that his sister Miwa was waiting right after him, it could have been a simple "mistake," but Harimoto looked stunned when "Miwa Harimoto" was called out again. When his own name was finally called, he entered the field without changing his expression.
The media outlet then went on to discuss Harimoto's performance in the match against Hong Kong on the 3rd. According to the article, Harimoto put his hand to his ear in response to the slanderous comments coming from the stands.
This was perceived as a provocation and drew a backlash from the crowd.
The article explained, "In response to the cheers of the Hong Kong players, Harimoto put his hand to his ear in a provocation, but otherwise remained mostly silent. After the match, he answered questions from Chinese reporters in Japanese throughout, intentionally keeping his distance."
The spectator etiquette of Chinese fans at this tournament became a hot topic online, drawing much criticism from Japanese table tennis fans.
Last updated: December 9 (Tue) 6:51 PM
J-CAST News
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/5e51ea70b0a2994162c197540698f1a03043e92e
Excerpt
