Profiting from Prejudice: Japanese YouTube Channels Monetize Anti-China 'Fake Videos'

A disturbing trend has emerged on Japanese YouTube, where certain channels are capitalizing on anti-China sentiment by producing and distributing fabricated videos. These content creators, driven by profit, are manufacturing sensationalized narratives that often rely on AI-generated imagery and monotonous robotic voices to peddle prejudice. The Asahi Shimbun's investigation reveals that such videos, frequently featuring titles like “Why are Chinese people so loud?” or “Chinese people damaging cherry blossoms,” are easily discoverable and garnering hundreds of thousands of views.

This phenomenon is not merely about expressing opinions; it has become a lucrative side hustle for some individuals. Recruitment ads on job sites seek out individuals to create "reaction videos" critical of China, often providing scripts and instructing creators to use AI to generate images of Chinese people or relevant locations. The instructions emphasize making the voices easy to understand for an older demographic, which forms a significant portion of the viewership. This systematic production of hate content, disguised as entertainment or commentary, can yield substantial income, with some creators reportedly earning up to 50,000 yen (approximately $320 USD) per month.

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The money is the reason I did it, but I realized I might have distorted someone's thoughts and divided society.

One particularly striking case highlighted by the Asahi Shimbun involves a former civil servant who transitioned from creating videos about baseball star Shohei Ohtani to producing anti-China content. He found that the advertising revenue from anti-China videos was significantly higher—up to three times more—than from Ohtani-related content. This operator openly sought out video creators who "love Japan and hate China," recruiting over 30 individuals for his operation. His justification? "We criticized China, not Japan, and anti-China content has been tolerated in Japan for years. It's strange to make an issue of it now."

From a Japanese perspective, this trend raises serious questions about the platform's role in fostering division and the ethical responsibilities of content creators. While the Asahi Shimbun frames it as a profitable "side business" exploiting "China-hate," the underlying issue touches upon the manipulation of public opinion and the potential for misinformation to spread rapidly online. The fact that such content is not only tolerated but actively monetized, sometimes even more effectively than apolitical content, suggests a concerning undercurrent in online discourse. This situation is uniquely Japanese in its specific targeting and monetization strategy, highlighting how online platforms can be leveraged for divisive purposes, often with little oversight.

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I criticized China, not Japan, and anti-China content has been tolerated in Japan for years. It's strange to make an issue of it now.