MySQL 5.7.12 import cannot create a JSON value from a string with CHARACTER SET 'binary'

Question

I exported my database with JSON columns in it. After I migrated to a new server, my import crashed every time with an error like:

cannot create a JSO

Answer 1

I had this problem dealing with exports made by Sequel Pro. I unchecked the Output BLOB fields as hex option and the problem went away. Visually inspecting the export showed legible JSON instead of binary.