Demon Slayer Breaks 100 Billion Yen Milestone, Narrowly Escaping Political Ban in China

TOKYO, Nov. 23 — The anime blockbuster Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Infinity Castle – Part 1: Return of Akaza has officially surpassed 100 billion yen in global box office revenue. With a cumulative total of approximately 106.3 billion yen (approx. $690 million), it has become the first Japanese film in history to cross the 100 billion yen mark worldwide.

While the film has grossed over 37.9 billion yen domestically in Japan and garnered widespread support globally, the major headline from the past week has been its release in mainland China, which began on November 14.

Released locally under the title Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc: Part 1 – Akaza Strikes Again, the film is off to a strong start. Reports indicate that pre-sales leading up to the premiere reached 180 million yuan (approx. 3.9 billion yen), with particularly high attendance in IMAX screenings.

A Narrow Escape from Geopolitical Tensions

Although the Chinese market has significantly contributed to pushing the global box office figures to record heights, the release comes with political risks unique to the region.

While the film has been screening in North America, Hong Kong, and other Asian territories since August, the release in mainland China was delayed until November—a gap likely attributed to the country’s strict censorship regulations and requirements for content modification.

However, this timing proved to be precariously close to a diplomatic flashpoint. Tensions between China and Japan have escalated sharply over the past week following the Japanese Prime Minister’s remarks regarding a Taiwan contingency. Consequently, on November 17, it was reported that the theatrical releases of other Japanese animated films, including the latest Crayon Shin-chan and Cells at Work!, were abruptly postponed.

Industry observers note that the political fallout has begun to “spread to entertainment,” affecting the content industry’s access to the market.

Given that Demon Slayer opened on November 14—just days before the crackdown—social media users have pointed out the film’s fortunate timing, with many commenting, “If it had been just one step later, it might have been postponed or banned.” While the film successfully launched, concerns remain that future screenings or box office performance could still be impacted by the ongoing political scrutiny and shifting situation.