Chinese television regulators have launched a battle against films and TV dramas set during the fight against the Japanese invasion in World War II. At a time when anti-Japanese sentiment is still very high in the country, it is not the issue in particular that irritates the authorities, because, on the contrary, Tokyo's refusal to admit atrocities during the Japanese occupation of China since 1937 to 1945 it continues to be an important topic in the curriculum of schools in the People's Republic.
Instead, Beijing's action is decided by the treatment of the theme itself, with details that at times would border on the ridiculous. In fact, in recent months, some Chinese viewers have complained that the script and action scenes of many historical television dramas are improbable. Some scenes in particular have prompted many viewers to write letters of protest, such as the one in which a heroic Chinese would be seen breaking a Japanese soldier in two with his bare hands, or another in which a Chinese archer would shoot a series of arrows with a single launch, killing numerous Japanese soldiers in seconds.
"The heroic deeds performed by the Chinese during the occupation are a valuable asset to China's entertainment industry," commented television critic Wang Weiping. "However, Beijing has asked to rectify television shows characterized by excessive entertainment and to promote those that show more seriousness in the treatment of this issue". The authorities periodically monitor TV channels still seen as an important propaganda tool. In recent years, major channels have pushed the entertainment pedal hard to attract advertising at a time when government subsidies are dwindling.
