[talk] We're sorry to hear that Rise Shotaro will not be able to perform in Macau this time.

News of Shotaro's absence was announced just one day before the Macau concerts scheduled for the 7th and 8th. The local production company officially announced, "We had prepared for all members to be on stage, but due to unforeseen circumstances, Shotaro will not be able to participate."

The industry sees this as a consequence of the recently intensifying Sino-Japanese conflict. The prevailing analysis is that this is due to the so-called "Japan-Korea Culture Ban," which includes visa restrictions and regulations for Japanese artists. Indeed, several K-pop events scheduled to take place in Greater China have recently been canceled or disrupted due to issues with Japanese members, further exacerbating the frustration among fans.