Justin Bieber made global headlines again this week when he visited Japan’s controversial Yasukuni Shrine, where the spirits of all those who died for the sake of the nation are enshrined — including the spirits of 14 Class A war criminals.
While Bieber posted an innocuous snap meant to convey his “spiritual” side to his millions of followers, those in China and Korea were offended by his visit to the shrine, given that he was apparently unaware of how former Japanese colonies perceive Yasukuni.
Japanese netizens, however, feel that Bieber had nothing to apologise for, with some pointing out that his visit was not politically oriented in the first place.
[Hat-tip to our very own Butsu!]
From Yahoo! Japan:
Justin Apologies For Yasukuni Shrine Visit, Also Deletes Photograph After Flood Of Criticism From China And Korea…Traveling Incognito In Japan
The offending Instagram picture
When popular Canadian singer Justin Bieber tweeted about his visit to the Yasukuni Shrine while in Japan, criticism poured in from Chinese and Korean fans, prompting the singer to apologise on Twitter on April 23. His reason for visiting Japan this time was not due to work, but rather was a private incognito trip.
On April 22, Justin posted a photograph on picture sharing app “Instagram” showing his visit to Yasukuni, attaching the comment “Thank you for your blessings”.
However, immediately afterward there were floods of criticism from China and others online. There were even comments in English that said “Is this for real?” and “He’s so dumb”.
In response to the huge reaction, Justin deleted the picture. On April 23, he updated his Twitter, saying “While in Japan I asked my driver to take me to a beautiful shrine. I was mistaken that the shrine (Yasukuni) was only a place of prayer”, and he apologised, saying “To anyone I have offended I am extremely sorry”.
He appealed to fans, “I love China, I love Japan”.
The uproar over his apology was widely reported in the digital edition of US magazine TIME.
In April last year, when Justin visited Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam, Holland, he was criticised as insensitive when he wrote in a guestbook, “I’m sure Anne would have been a Belieber”.
Justin now has more than 51,100,000 followers on Twitter.
Comments from Yahoo! Japan:
お手盛り厚遇吸血公務員の借金1017兆円:
If they understood him, they ought to have understood that there was no political intention or thought behind it.
What’s the problem?
あおによし:
China and Korea are really stupid.
They’re ugly too.
yuz*****:
Poor guy.
So this was a personal attack on someone whose opinion differed from his?
Chinese and Koreans are awful.
Colorado Bulldog:
It’s unfair to criticise him for visiting Yasukuni. For the following reasons:
・It’s only China and Korea throughout the whole world who criticise visits to Yasukuni.
・Justin Bieber is not a politician or anything of the sort. There was no political intention at all.
・Both before and after the war, global celebrities (for example John Lennon) and VIPs from various countries have come to offer prayers at Yasukuni to commemorate the dead and pray for peace.
・What’s more, it’s weird that because this post had more than 660000 likes, the 20-30,000 critical comments from China and Korea are being emphasized. Don’t you think that’s really strange, everyone?
慰安腐女:
Justin loves China and Japan, but Korea is left out (笑)
die*****:
Chinese and Koreans, you lot should just stick to playing with Japanese people when it comes to this kind of thing. Don’t drag other people into it.
emi*****:
Poor Justin.
He only went to the Yasukuni Shrine in the first please because he understood respect for the dead.
Any decent person would think that they ought to visit Yasukuni, and then they just get criticised by crazy Chinese and Koreans.
Making light of someone’s faith should be opposed as idiotic.
tri*****:
Their low cultural have become apparent.
S1O25L0Z:
I won’t forgive Yasukuni being treated like Japan’s secret shame.
Comments from Facebook:
Yuta Iwata:
Justin, there’s no need to apologize.
Tomoharu Kodama:
For Japan, China and Korea are becoming the worst kind of nations, so much so that it’s hopeless. Seems like we will never be friends.
They make a huge fuss over things without any real proof if they don’t have a good understanding of them. And it’s not just limited to Yasukuni, but all things to do with Japan. They only depend on Japan when it’s convenient for them.
It’s pretty sad that he apologised when he didn’t really understand things properly, too.
Masayo Nozue:
Poor guy.
And it’s natural that he wouldn’t know these things about Yasukuni.
I’m happy that he went geniunely to encounter Japan’s culture.
Taka Fj:
I bet the driver only took him there because he knew it would end up like this w
Shin Makino:
There’s absolutely no need to apologise!
Just get rid of the fans who talk shit.
Kitamoto Chiharu:
“And I love Japan”
Yeah, he says that, but he still deleted the picture.
“To anyone I have offended I am extremely sorry”
If you are, then please don’t delete that picture.
By deleting the picture, you’ve hurt the feelings of Japanese people.
