The woman wore the kimono and a wig while cosplaying as a popular character from the Summer Time Rendering manga series. She was taking pictures in Suzhou when she and her photographer were approached by a police officer, according to a video shot and shared on social media. A young Chinese woman was arrested by local police in Suzhou last Wednesday for wearing a kimono. “If you were wearing Hanfu (Chinese traditional clothes), I would never say this, but you are wearing a kimono, as a Chinese. You are Chinese!” pic.twitter.com/et8vWOferQ — Manya Koetse (@manyapan) August 15, 2022 In the video, the woman explains that she was taking a photo, but an officer tells her: “If you came here wearing Hanfu, I wouldn’t say that. But you wear a kimono, like a Chinese. You are Chinese! Are you?” Hanfu is a term for traditional Han Chinese dress. The woman asked why she was being called and was told she was suspected of “lecturing fights and inciting riots,” a sensational charge commonly used by Chinese authorities against dissidents, journalists and activists. The video cuts shortly after the police grab her and take her away. The woman said she had been queuing for food on a street famous for Japanese restaurants when the officer approached. She said she was taken to the station and questioned for about five hours until 01:00 and that her phone was searched and her kimono confiscated. She said she was “educated” and told not to discuss the incident online. Suzhou police could not be reached and have yet to publicly comment on the woman’s allegations. The video was viewed by tens of millions and sparked heated debate on Chinese social media, where nationalism has been on the rise. Hostility or discomfort towards Japan has existed within China for decades due to its violent invasion and occupation of China and wartime atrocities such as the Nanjing Massacre. Regular visits by Japanese politicians to the Yasukuni shrine also draw ire in China and other Asian nations such as South Korea. In recent years, Japan’s government has become more assertive externally against Beijing’s expansionist behavior in the region, particularly toward Taiwan. As it has aligned itself more closely with the US and other Western allies, official and domestic Chinese anger toward Japan has grown. But online many commentators seemed to think the woman’s alleged treatment was over the top. Some urged people to calm down “ultra-nationalism” or expressed concern about the judgment of the clothes people were wearing. Before the pandemic, renting a kimono or lighter yukata for photo shoots was a popular activity for Chinese tourists in Japan. “I really feel like the social atmosphere has made people speechless to the point where I don’t want to say anything,” said one. “It’s okay to train her, but isn’t it a little too much to accuse her of ‘picking fights and causing trouble’ and taking her away?” said another. Others noted the timing – around the anniversary of Japan’s surrender 77 years ago – suggesting the woman should have been more sensitive and drawn attention to herself. Prominent hawkish commentator and former Global Times editor Hu Xijin also stood up, saying her actions were not illegal and people should be able to dress freely, but there are sensitivities. “Kimono should not be banned in our society, and in fact there is no such ban. But when someone wants to wear a kimono, I advise them to be mindful of the surroundings… to avoid becoming the focus of unnecessary controversy as much as possible.” State broadcaster CCTV also began promoting a hashtag on social media encouraging people to wear Hanfu, according to a report by What’s On Weibo.
