Today's Japan: Film, music & fashion

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrives in Tokyo, kicking off a five-day "warm spring" trip to Japan. The state visit is aimed at boosting strategic and mutually beneficial relations between China and Japan. Hu Jintao's state visit to Japan is the first by a Chinese president in 10 years. To most of Chinese people, today's Japan means movies, pop music, cartoons, sashimi and fashion.

In the autumn of 1978, "Sandakan 8" hit the Chinese cinema and immediately impressed Chinese audiences. The film examined the taboo subject of Japanese women sold into prostitution in South East Asia during the early 20th Century. The great actress Kiyuno Tanaka gave a poignant performance as Osaki, a former prostitute ostracized because of her past. Another leading actress Komaki Kurihara also captured the heart of the Chinese audience with her elegant portrayal.

Komaki Kurihara, actress, said, "Film is a great art form. It goes beyond borders of time and space. It shares sensations and creates echoes. As we started shooting, I was surprised to find that a film could impress me so deeply. I and proud to have played a role in "Sandakan 8"."

The big sucess of the anti-war movie aroused a fever for Japanese film and TV productions in China. Momoe Yamaguchi and Ken Takakura became idols among youngsters in the film "The Man Who Wades the River of Rage". There followed the TV series "Red Suspicion" and "Ashin".

The influence of Japanese pop music in China traces back to 1981. That was the year the renowned musician Shinji Tanimura first appeared on stage in China. His first hit "Star" became famous overnight. Today, he has become the image ambassador for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

In the past nearly three decades, Chinese children have grown up accompanied by Japanese cartoon characters such as "Astro Boy", "Ikkyu-San" and "Sakura Momoko". Even today, animated classics like "Dora Amon" still claim millions of fans, including adults.

Japan is also a nation of fashion. In Tokyo's Shibuya district, top trendies and chic shops are the name of the region. Shibuya 109 is not only a shopping mall, but the birthplace of young Japanese culture, and potentially a major influence on world fashion.