From ‘Captain Tsubasa’ to the World Cup, China’s love affair with Japan football lives on (opens original article in a new tab)

Chinese football fans in Shanghai celebrated Japan's World Cup victory, citing cultural ties and shared Asian pride despite political tensions between the countries.

• Chinese football fans in Shanghai celebrated Japan's 4-0 World Cup victory over Tunisia
• Fans cited childhood exposure to Japanese anime and shared Asian pride as reasons for their support
• Despite political tensions, some fans aim to use football as a bridge for bilateral relations
• Some fans face online abuse for supporting Japan due to historical and political sensitivities