Japanese movies struggling amid tensions with South Korea
FULL ARTICLE HERESeoul-based film distributor Media Castle thought it had a hit on its hands when it prepared to release the Japanese movie “Weathering With You” last year. It was made by the same director as the record-setting “Your Name.” which drew 3.7 million people to cinemas in South Korea. But the follow-up flopped, taking just 20% of the revenue the previous film achieved, and Media Castle says it was international politics that killed it off.
In July last year, Japan’s government tightened export controls of high-tech materials bound for South Korea. People there reacted by boycotting Japanese items, from beer to clothing, vehicles and movies.
On a South Korean website for Japanese movie reviews one person wrote, “I won’t watch Japanese films because I don’t want to be a pig or a dog.” Another wrote, “Who wants to see Japanese movies at a time like this?”