Japanese product exhibition held in Dalian, China after postponement

The Dalian Japanese Products Exhibition opened in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China on October 24th. The three-day event, which runs until October 26th, was postponed from its original mid-September date because 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The exhibition, which began in 2008, is now in its 14th year. It is hosted by the Dalian Municipal Government and others, who are actively seeking to attract Japanese investment.

This year, local governments and companies from 27 prefectures and four cities in Japan participated. Major companies such as All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Izumizen Holdings also exhibited.

The exhibition showcased approximately 4,000 products across a wide range of sectors, from food and beverages to health products for the elderly. It is rare for such a large-scale, Japan-themed event to be held in China.

The exhibition has been affected by political events and was not held in 2012, when Sino-Japanese relations deteriorated. The 2023 edition, which was scheduled just as Tokyo Electric Power Company began releasing treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, was also postponed.

There was also concern about whether this year’s event would be held. Originally scheduled for September 12-14, exhibitors were notified in mid-August of the postponement, which would last over a month.

September saw a military parade in Beijing, and there were also commemorations of the September 18th Incident across the country, contributing to a surge in anti-Japanese sentiment.

The successful opening of the exhibition is significant. It is hoped that exposure to Japanese products and services will improve Chinese people’s feelings toward Japan.

Ms. Ge (70), who was at the event, said, “I was traveling from Beijing and happened to see the billboard and came in. I heard Japanese cosmetics were good, so I bought some to try.”