As China and Japan mark 50 years of normalized diplomatic ties this week, CGTN's street interviews in Tokyo reveal surprising perspectives from Japan's digital-native generation. Born between the mid-1990s and 2010s, these young adults shared candid thoughts about cross-cultural connections in an age of TikTok diplomacy and global uncertainty.
\"I'm curious about China's tech innovations,\" said 22-year-old university student Rina Tanaka, reflecting a common theme among respondents. Others highlighted shared pop culture influences, with several mentioning viral cross-border YouTube collaborations. However, some expressed concern about geopolitical tensions overshadowing people-to-people exchanges.
The findings suggest Gen Z's views blend traditional diplomacy with digital-era values: 68% of participants prioritized economic cooperation, while 55% emphasized youth cultural exchanges as key to future relations. As the world's second- and third-largest economies navigate complex ties, this tech-fluent generation appears ready to rewrite the rulebook using memes, gaming communities, and climate activism as bridges.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
