銳報 SHARPPOSTHong Kong

Organizers have canceled Mega Fans Expo 2026, an adult expo that was to open at Hong Kong’s Regal Airport Hotel on Nov. 13. Several Japanese performers billed to appear had written on social media that members of their group were refused entry or sent back to Japan. Hong Kong’s Immigration Department said early on Nov. 12 that those reports were untrue and that the people concerned chose to leave after learning the event had been called off, in replies to inquiries from HK01, Sing Tao Daily and the Hong Kong Economic Journal.

The organizers announced the cancellation of the three-day show and a Nov. 12 preview in a statement issued at about 6 p.m. Hong Kong time on Nov. 11, saying refund arrangements would follow through official channels. HK01 had reported a post by actress Hibiki Otsuki at 5:55 p.m. The official ticket seller, KKday, later told buyers the event was canceled because of an “entry problem involving the artiste group” and that orders would be fully refunded, HK01 reported.

The department has not issued a press release on the matter. As of Nov. 12, the most recent item on its press-release list was dated Nov. 6.

HK01 reported early on Nov. 12 that posts in which Otsuki, Remu Suzumori and Mary Tachibana had said they were refused entry had by then been deleted. According to am730, Yui Hatano wrote in an Instagram story on Nov. 11: “Everyone who arrived in Hong Kong has been sent back to Japan. The Hong Kong event may be canceled. I will post as soon as I have more details.” Sing Tao Daily also said Rena Miyashita had replied to a fan that “it seems everyone is being forcibly returned,” and that Hikari Aozora had said the whole group would go back to Japan.

In a post on X at 1:40 a.m. on Nov. 12, Hatano said she had deleted an earlier post so she could collect herself, that she had been due to appear as master of ceremonies, and that she had heard fans had waited at the airport and she was unable to meet them.

File photo of Yui Hatano at a Yakuza Kiwami commemorative event on May 28, 2016
File photo: Yui Hatano at a commemorative event for the video game Yakuza Kiwami, May 28, 2016. SJ, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.

Otsuki wrote at 11:18 p.m. on Nov. 11 that she was safely back in Tokyo, that her suitcase had not arrived, and that fans should wait for a detailed announcement. At 1:34 a.m. she quoted the organizers’ cancellation notice and apologized.

File photo of Hibiki Otsuki at the Tokyo Game Show on Sept. 18, 2014
File photo: Hibiki Otsuki at the Tokyo Game Show, Sept. 18, 2014. TAKA@P.P.R.S, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.

HK01 said it reached Choi Wai-sum, whom it identified as a director of the organizer, AEE Group Limited, by phone at about 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 11. “It’s not convenient to talk now. We’ll have an announcement later,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. When a reporter asked whether the matter was related to performers being refused entry, he hung up, HK01 reported.

The organizers’ official X account posted at 12:12 a.m. on Nov. 12. The Japanese notice said the expo had been called off because of “various circumstances” (諸般の事情); the Chinese notice cited “special factors.” Both said refund instructions would follow through ticket outlets and the official website.

The event had been promoted with a roster of nearly 30 Japanese performers. Tickets were sold through KKday. HK01 said tickets were still available at about 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 11 and were listed as sold out about an hour later.