In Return Interview, "I Want to Visit the Special Forces Museum"
Criticism in Korea-China Online... Also Unfollowed Chinese Athletes
Controversy has arisen over comments made by Japan's Hayata Hina, the bronze medalist in women's singles table tennis at the 2024 Paris Olympics, immediately after her return to Japan.
On the 15th, Japanese news agencies Kyodo News and NHK reported on a press conference held by Hayata on the 13th in Kyushu, where she returned.
When asked what she wanted to do after returning, Hayata said, "I want to visit the Kagoshima Special Attack Museum to feel that being alive and being able to play table tennis is not something to be taken for granted."
The museum Hayata expressed her intention to visit is a war museum located in Chiran, Kagoshima, Japan. This site was an air force base during World War II and honors the members of the suicide squad known as the "Kamikaze." It exhibits restored fighter plane models used in Kamikaze attacks, as well as the barracks where the mobilized pilots wrote farewell letters before their sorties.
Kagoshima Prefecture, which was a base for Kamikaze attacks, attempted in 2014 to register Kamikaze-related materials as UNESCO World Documentary Heritage.
Hayata Hina (right) receiving congratulations from Shin Yubin after winning the bronze medal match in the women's singles table tennis at the 2024 Paris Olympics [Image source=Yonhap News]
Hayata won a thrilling match against South Korea's Shin Yu-bin in the bronze medal match of the women's singles at this Olympics. Notably, Shin Yu-bin's act of smiling and congratulating Hayata despite her defeat received praise not only domestically but also in Japan for showing the "dignity of a loser." Retired Japanese table tennis legend Hirano Saya also cited the embrace between Shin Yu-bin and Hayata as the most moving moment of this Olympics.
However, following this interview, domestic fans have criticized her, saying things like, "Why give such an interview after competing against Korea and China at the Olympics?" and "She seems unaware that her country is a war criminal nation."
On Chinese online platforms, criticism has also surged with comments such as "Hayata has crossed a line that should not be crossed" and "She is glorifying Japan's aggression."
Chinese women's table tennis star Sun Yingsha, as well as Paris Olympics men's singles gold medalist Fan Zhendong, reportedly unfollowed Hayata on social media immediately after her remarks.
Kyodo News interprets their actions on social media as related to Hayata's comments about visiting the Special Attack Museum.
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