Many young Chinese are impressed by Japanese pop culture, such as animations and movies.[Photo/China Daily]

Divergence of opinion

Where opinions diverge is over the necessity of holding such protests: "It (the protest) is not a march without a result. We are showing our attitude here. I can be a soldier if my nation calls on me, or at least I would be able to cook for the soldiers," said Cui Yutong, 23, who joined the crowds outside the Japanese embassy in Beijing on Sept 6.

After seeing posts on the Internet on Sept 5 calling for people to gather, they arrived at the designated time and place the next day.

Her boyfriend stood at the front of the march, holding a banner that read, "Give the Diaoyu Islands back to China."

Both Yang Yue, a 32-year-old Beijing real estate agent, and her brother requested a half-day's leave from work and joined the protests on Thursday afternoon.

"We took a bus there, but it went straight past the stop at the front of the embassy. So we got off at the next stop and walked back. When we arrived, the embassy was already encircled by a large number of police, spaced out at 10-meter intervals," she said.

"Just as we were wondering how to get to the front gate, a large crowd walked toward us waving the Chinese flag and shouting slogans. We joined the march immediately and were given flags by the others. Talking to the man walking beside me, I learned that all the people had arrived on their own initiative, like us.

"The dispute over the Diaoyu Islands is the biggest topic in my family. We want to express our anger and put pressure on Japan," she said.