A collaboration between Detective Conan and My Hero Academia has sparked controversy over alleged anti-China implications, prompting the Chinese rights holder to issue an urgent statement.

(Beijing, Feb 1) The massively popular Japanese anime Detective Conan has recently been drawn into an online “insulting China” controversy. As part of its 30th anniversary celebration, Japan-side planners reportedly prepared a collaboration campaign with My Hero Academia, which is also marking its 10th anniversary. The plan quickly triggered strong backlash and calls for a boycott across Chinese social media.

The core of the dispute lies in My Hero Academia’s past controversy in China, where certain elements—particularly related to naming—were viewed by some netizens as touching on historically sensitive wartime issues. Against that backdrop, Detective Conan’s decision to collaborate has been interpreted by critics as crossing a highly sensitive line.

Reports say the collaboration includes commemorative artwork exchanged between the two creators, along with a limited co-branded promotional short. In the current online climate, however, the partnership has been heavily scrutinized and widely debated.

In response, Detective Conan’s China licensing agent, “Xinchuanhua,” issued a late-night statement on January 31. The company said the collaboration is part of an international anniversary exchange intended purely as a tribute between works, without political meaning or stance, and added that it would continue communicating with the Japanese side to ensure future content aligns more closely with expectations in China.

The statement, however, has not fully eased the backlash. Some users argue that framing it as a “friendly exchange” is insufficient and are calling for clearer actions, while others—especially fans—have expressed disappointment and concern about potential fallout.