Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

From Cultural Affinity to Political Ineffectiveness: Buffer Mechanisms and Boundary Conditions of Japanese Anime Dissemination in China—A Case Study ofDoraemonandDetective Conan

Jiayan DuUniversity of International Business and Economics*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

This study examines the formation and failure mechanisms of the "cultural buffer" —a mediated social-psychological space where transnational popular culture temporarily suspends geopolitical tensions. Focusing on Sino-Japanese relations, it constructs a dynamic theoretical framework that proposes three pillars for a stable buffer: apolitical/universal content, a depoliticized consumption ecosystem, and a macro-context of "stable strain." Its collapse is triggered by transgressions of core historical narratives. Employing a comparative case study of the divergent trajectories of Doraemon and Detective Conan in China, the analysis finds that Doraemon' s robustness stems from a reinforcing cycle of its universal narrative, commercial entrenchment, and audience practice of separating culture from politics. In contrast, Detective Conan' s buffer collapsed when a 2026 promotional link with My Hero Academia was perceived as violating a foundational historical boundary, triggering a public re-politicization chain reaction. The study concludes that the cultural buffer is a contingent, co-produced space whose stability is ultimately determined by audience reception. The primary contribution is a micro-level mechanistic framework explaining the dynamic process of buffering, moving beyond macro-level soft power descriptions.

Keywords: Cultural buffer; soft power; cross-cultural communication; Sino-Japanese relations; Japanese anime
Published: July 6, 2026
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2026.HT35010
Volume: CHR Vol.113
pp. 94-103
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