Convention cancelled in Hong Kong after 30 Japanese artists barred

Othe organizers of the Mega Fans Expo 2026, presented as Hong Kong's first major adult entertainment convention, cancelled the event after refusal to enter the region of nearly 30 artists from Japan.

The cancellation was announced on Wednesday, less than 48 hours from the beginning of the exhibition, scheduled to take place from Friday to Sunday at Hotel Regal Airport.

In a brief statement, the organisation did not specify the reasons for the decision, but merely stated that details of the reimbursement of tickets will be released shortly through official channels.

The decision took place after most of Japan's adult industry actors were barred upon arrival at Hong Kong International Airport.

Actress Hibiki Otsuki, one of the main attractions of the event, explained on social media that although she managed to enter the city, her representative, the technical team and the other group accompanying her were not admitted and were eventually forced to return to Japan, despite having seen them in advance.

“This is the first time anything like this has happened to me. I was surprised. Of course, no one has done anything wrong,” Otsuki said, describing the situation as “extremely chaotic” and promising to give further explanations as soon as he is back in Japan.

Another actress, Rena Miyashita, indicated that the entire group seemed destined for forced repatriation, while veteran Yui Hatano, who was designated the event's master of ceremonies, confirmed her return to Japan and apologized to fans for the outcome.

The cancellation leaves thousands of participants who had purchased exclusive tickets and packages, including handprint molding sessions, valued between 2,380 and 2,580 Hong Kong dollars (about 274 to 297 euros), as well as personalized meetings with artists.

According to the migration legislation of the former British colony, foreigners with visitor status are prohibited from performing any work, whether paid or not.

For this reason, participation in commercial events or acts with public generally requires a work visa or a specific authorisation obtained prior to the trip.

The immigration authorities of the region usually point out that the prior possession of a visa does not automatically guarantee entry into the territory, since border agents assess, on a case-by-case basis, whether the real purpose of the stay is in accordance with the conditions of admission in force.

The cancellation of the event takes place in a scenario of diplomatic tensions between China and Japan, which have lasted since November 2025, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in the Tokyo Parliament that a possible Chinese attack on Taiwan could justify an intervention by the Japanese Self-Defence Forces.

Beijing reacted to the statement with diplomatic protests, recommendations for its citizens to avoid travel to the archipelago and the imposition of trade restrictions.

In the nearby Chinese region of Macau, South Korean station MBC, which was organizing a South Korean music festival, which included bands that integrate Japanese artists, cancelled the event at the end of January 2026.

The MBC did not provide any explanation for the decision, explaining only that it was taken “after a complete analysis of local circumstances and general logistics conditions”.

Even before the official announcement by MBC, the South Korean press had already advanced with the possible cancellation due to the alleged difficulty of Japanese artists in obtaining visas to perform in Macau.

At the time, Macau Public Security Police (PSP) denied Lusa to refuse visas to Japanese artists, stating that she had not received “any official request.”.