Central News Agency (CNA, Reporter Liao Wen-chi, Shanghai, June 18) Affected by deteriorating Sino-Japanese relations, the 2026 Shanghai Film Festival is not screening any Japanese films, a rare occurrence. A veteran film fan pointed out that in the past, even when Sino-Korean relations were poor, the Shanghai Film Festival could still screen Korean films. The absence of Japanese films this year is a more serious situation. Since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made remarks about "Taiwan contingency" in November last year, Sino-Japanese relations have worsened. The 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, held from June 12 to 21, not only lacks a "Japanese Film Week" to introduce the latest Japanese cinema but also is not screening any Japanese films or inviting Japanese jurors. Regarding this phenomenon, a veteran film fan who specifically traveled to Shanghai to attend the festival believes that a Shanghai Film Festival without Japanese films is "greatly diminished." He said, "Japanese films at the Shanghai Film Festival are always highly sought after every year, and they are indispensable. In the hearts of fans, they are deeply intertwined with the Shanghai Film Festival." He added that a large number of Japanese films participate in the Shanghai Film Festival annually, with many even having their world premieres in Shanghai. Many Japanese filmmakers also come to participate in events, and numerous Japanese directors have served as jurors at the Shanghai Film Festival. Having attended the Shanghai Film Festival for 10 years, he observed that Japanese films have been a very important component since the festival's inception. Among the approximately 400 films exhibited at the Shanghai Film Festival each year, the number of Japanese films often ranks second only to those from China and the United States. For instance, in 2025, the Shanghai Film Festival had as many as 224 screenings of Japanese films, and many of the exhibited Japanese films received excell