LayarHijau –Sohu Entertainment reported that the latest collaboration between the anime Detective Conan and the manga My Hero Academia has sparked controversy in China. The collaboration drew criticism from some members of the public due to My Hero Academia’s continued sensitivity within the Chinese market.
In response to the growing debate, on the evening of the 31st, the main copyright agent for Detective Conan in mainland China released an official statement. The agent emphasized that the collaboration carries no political stance or ideological meaning.
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According to the statement, this year marks the 30th anniversary of Detective Conan’s anime broadcast. To commemorate the milestone, the Japanese copyright holder planned a series of celebratory collaborations with multiple Japanese anime and manga titles as a gesture of mutual congratulations among works.
The copyright agent stressed that the collaboration was purely an act of friendly exchange between creative works, intended to celebrate the longevity of the franchise. All concepts and arrangements were determined by the Japanese side as part of the anniversary campaign, with no intention of conveying any political message or position toward any country or region.
Despite the clarification, the collaboration continued to provoke discussion on Chinese social media platforms. Some netizens argued that involving My Hero Academia was inappropriate, given the long-standing controversy surrounding the title in China.
Why My Hero Academia Remains Controversial in China
My Hero Academia’s controversy in China dates back to 2020, when the manga used the name “Maruta” for one of its villain characters. The term maruta carries deeply sensitive historical connotations, as it was used by Japan’s Unit 731 during World War II to refer to human subjects—primarily Chinese civilians—used in live medical experiments.
The character in question was portrayed as a scientist conducting cruel experiments on human bodies, which triggered public outrage in China for touching upon painful historical trauma. Although the manga’s creator and publisher later changed the character’s name and issued a public apology, negative sentiment in China never fully subsided.
As a result, My Hero Academia continues to be viewed by some segments of the Chinese public as a historically problematic title. This perception has made any high-profile reappearance of the franchise, including large-scale collaborations with well-known works such as Detective Conan, a recurring source of public backlash and debate.
