Pornography and patriotism

Can’t we all just get it on?

A Japanese actress reminds her Chinese fans how conflicted they are

See article

Readers' comments




"OF ALL the positions with which Sora Aoi has excited her Chinese fans (and there have been many), this was among the more surprising."

Best opening of an Economist article ever.

Will O the Wind

Eroticism and nationalism are... in fact, two easy ways to spend your empty evening.

Nothing to do in weekend? Porno videos, or nationalist forums?


The only way Sora Aoi can somehow extinguish the Chinese patriotic "fire" is to shoot her next porno video in the disputed islands with a Chinese man as the actor who subjugates her sexually. Chinese natonalism is highly emotionally charged that can only be alleviated by something equally emotionally charged. Sex and nationalism are similar things in terms of irration, ejucaltion(both of sperms and claims and voices), and fierceness.

Chinese American

Loved the article. It reminds people that there are other things in life than hate. Sex is one of them. Violent protesters please get laid. Oh no you cannot because there is are way less females in the country.


I wonder if her tentacled co-stars receive as much fame and adulaton... Japanese porn is probably the weirdest around, though the Germans give them a run for their money.

James Hollifield in reply to gonggabear

@Gonggabear, you seemingly do not understand the author very well, let alone the western culture.

This article was written for fun, not for serious business.

Enroll in some western college and learn some sense of humor, young man.


Chinese people do not wave such kind of banner for their admiration for some aspects of Japan. Because of the flourishing development of porn industry of Japan, how weird it is, Chinese people are just making fun of it. Never take it seriously, editors. You don't know how silly you're to write such an article. With merely superficial understanding of China and it's national conditions, you guys are not in the position to issue any commentary articles on China in public.


The author seemingly doesnt understand Chinese young men very well, let alone Chinese culture. The slogan "the Diaoyu islands belong to China, Sora Aoi belongs to the world.” is just the way Chinese young men express their sense of humor. They dont really care about this has-been Japanese porn star. But fortunately Sora Aoi did regain popularity & came back to the public attention especially in China during the conflict between China & Japan.

aidan clarke in reply to noseri

I do not "dedicate" my SO to anything, cheerfully or otherwise. We are all free people with independent minds. She is with me for as long as she wants to be with me.

Indeed, the fact that it was your first choice to make THAT argument as your retort is perfect proof of my original point.

1 Kyat Drone

"Ms Aoi’s appeal received some sympathetic comments among the 150,000 or so that it attracted. But many of her fans, like the nation as a whole, were fully behind the protests. Some taunted her with obscene insults and threats. One comment, translated by ChinaSMACK, a website, sought to make the best of things, suggesting that, when it takes back the Diaoyu islands, China should capture Ms Aoi alive."

Haha I knew The Economist was just regurgitating many articles found in ChinaSMACK.


I have been writing at least half dozen posts about Ms. Sora Aoi, and now Economist finally focused on her.

Ms. Aoi is an icon -- and I have suggested she becomes the new Japanese ambassador to China!


This woman is smart. Doesn't Aoi have a PhD degree?

In all seriousness, Diaoyudao/Senkaku has been discussed in both Japanese and Chinese official government records. In Japan, since the Meiji period! Here is an exhaustive analysis of what those records shown:

The evidence is irrefutable. Perhaps Aoi is much more read on this issue than anyone else at the Economist.

It's also revealing to see those 'human rights,' 'freedom,' and 'democracy' purveyors harping against China politically on this issue while they have no idea how ignorant they are about the history. How else could they so brilliantly undermine their credibility with the Chinese?



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