The new rules, issued by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) and said to "meet the people's demand for more delicate programming," took effect on Jan. 1 last year.
The new rules restrict the total number of entertainment shows aired daily by the 34 provincial satellite TV channels between 7:30 and 10pm to nine. The new directive does not give a definition of entertainment shows or to what extent is considered excessive, but lists match-making shows, game shows, talk shows, talent shows and reality shows as its primary targets.
On Jan. 15, the Japanese porn star, who has become a cultural phenomenon in China despite pornography being banned in the country, attended the annual general meeting of Chinese online clothing retailer Vancl, during which she impressed the company's staff by demonstrating her love of calligraphy.
The presence of the adult movie star at the event stole the thunder of all other female celebrities in attendance, and she was also required to give hugs to several Chinese entrepreneurs on the stage.
Chinese internet users said the censors failed to block her appearance on TV because they may happen to be among her fans. The number of Sora Aoi's followers on Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, totaled more than 9.24 million as of Jan. 25.
"I strip in front of the camera to survive but you appear nicely clad in front of the camera only to satisfy your personal greed and to lie," the porn star posted online after the Vancl event.
A netizen going by the name "four one" questioned whether the new rules should be applied to Aoi's public appearances in China, and suggested that the authorities may have bent the rules to accommodate her.
"Four one" also questioned why Chinese actress Tang Wei was banned in China for stripping in Ang Lee's movie Lust, Caution, and whether Sora Aoi bypassed the restrictions because her appearances in China symbolize a "dwarf country (ie, Japan) paying tribute to China." The netizen said sarcastically that it doesn't matter if a non-Chinese porn star strips, because it doesn't tarnish the image of China.
In addition to mainland China and her native Japan, Sora Aoi also claims legions of fans in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
