A man waits at an intersection in the Shibuya district in Tokyo on November 21, 2025. Photo: VCG

 
After careful consideration, the Hong Kong delegation has decided to cancel next month's secondary school exchange program to Japan, the Hong Kong Education Bureau (EDB) said on Saturday, according to media reports.

The decision was made in light of the rising trend of attacks on Chinese nationals in Japan, with the aim of ensuring the safety of teachers and students, the EDB said.

The delegation had been scheduled to visit Japan from December 7 to 13 to join the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) Programme, RTHK reported.

The Programme, which Hong Kong has taken part in since 2008, includes Japanese school classes, staying with local families, and visiting historical sites, according to the report.

Amid a rise in assaults against Chinese nationals in Japan, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on China's Taiwan region, multiple sectors in China, including film, aviation, and tourism, have recently canceled related activities.

The screening of two Japanese films in Chinese mainland cinemas has been postponed. The affected titles are "Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Super Hot! Scorching Kasukabe Dancers," which was previously scheduled to release on December 6, and "Cells at Work!", previously scheduled to open on November 22.

According to data from industry information provider Flight Master on Wednesday, the volume of civil aviation passengers from the Chinese mainland to Japan has experienced a significant decline. After China issued a travel warning to tourists and students planning to visit Japan, "almost a dozen airlines offered refunds to passengers and about 500,000 people were estimated to have canceled flights," reported The Guardian on Wednesday.

A Chinese cruise ship Adora Mediterranea, which was chartered by travel agencies, has cancelled a planned stop at Miyakojima Island in Okinawa, Japan, at the request of the clients, the ship's operator Adora Cruises told the Global Times on Wednesday night.

China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism on November 16 advised Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, citing security concerns. In a statement published on its official website, the ministry cited the travel advisory issued by the Chinese foreign ministry, which referred to a deteriorating security environment for Chinese citizens in Japan as well as recent provocative remarks made by the Japanese leader regarding China's Taiwan, according to Xinhua.

On the same day, the Ministry of Education released an overseas study alert, urging Chinese students currently in Japan or planning to study there soon to assess risks carefully, take necessary precautions, and plan their studies prudently.

Global Times