Maki Otsuki, the iconic voice behind the first ending themes of the legendary anime One Piece, was shockingly removed from the stage during a live performance, leaving both J-Pop lovers and anime fans stunned and outraged.

According to The Straits Times, Otsuki was scheduled to perform on November 28 and 29 at the Bandai Namco Festival 2025 in Shanghai, a major event celebrating J-Pop and anime culture. However, on the evening of November 28, as she was passionately performing, the stage lights suddenly went dark and the music abruptly stopped. Two individuals reportedly staff quickly escorted her offstage, bewildering the audience.

Her management later released a statement citing “unavoidable circumstances” as the reason for the sudden halt. The following day’s performance and the remainder of the festival, originally set to run through November 30, were canceled due to what organizers called a “comprehensive review of various factors.”

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The incident drew swift backlash online. While the official explanation referenced force majeure, many netizens and fans believe the underlying reason was politically motivated. The disruption follows diplomatic tensions between Japan and China, particularly after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made statements about Taiwan during a parliamentary session on November 7.

Otsuki wasn’t the only Japanese artist affected. Others including Momoiro Clover Z, singer Ayumi Hamasaki, jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara, and the Sailor Moon stage musical were all forced to cancel their appearances, marking a widespread fallout from the event.

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Born in 1973 in Fukui Prefecture, Maki Otsuki rose to fame in the late ’90s and is beloved for her emotional renditions of the One Piece endings “Memories” and “Run! Run! Run!”. Her voice has become a nostalgic emblem for generations of fans.

Aside from her solo work, Otsuki was once a member of the band Cassis, and has consistently released solo projects. In 2024, she made a notable comeback with the new One Piece song “Dear Sunrise”. Over the years, she has remained a familiar figure at anime festivals and international pop culture events, helping bridge J-Pop with global audiences.

Sources: hht