"I Want to Visit the Kamikaze Memorial"... Controversial Remarks by Japanese Table Tennis Player Who Hugged Shin Yubin

Hayata from Japan Hugged Shin Yubin
"I Want to Visit the Kamikaze Memorial"

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Hina Hayata of Japan, who won the bronze medal in the women's table tennis singles by defeating Shin Yubin of Korea, sparked controversy by saying she wanted to visit the Kamikaze Memorial Hall. According to Japan's NHK and others on the 16th, Hayata said at a press conference held after her return on the 13th, when asked about "what she wants to do," "I want to go to the Kagoshima Special Attack Unit Museum and feel that being alive and able to play table tennis is not something to be taken for granted."

The museum Hayata mentioned is a war museum located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. It was built to honor the Japanese military suicide attack unit called the "Kamikaze," which was stationed at an air force base there during World War II. It is known that some Korean pilots forcibly conscripted by the Japanese military were also included in the special attack unit at that time. The Kamikaze, along with the Rising Sun Flag, symbolizes Japanese militarism.

Hayata's remarks have drawn criticism in Korea and China. On Hayata's social media, comments such as "I am disappointed" and "Remember what Japan did" were posted.

[Image source=Professor Seokyungdeok, Sungshin Women's University]

China's state-run Global Times reported, "Kamikaze pilots symbolize the ugliness and cruelty of Japanese right-wing activists and represent the Japanese military aggression during World War II." It also noted, "Upon hearing this news, Chinese table tennis players Sun Yingsha and Fan Zhendong immediately unfollowed Hayata on the social media platform Weibo."

Regarding this controversy, Professor Seokyeong Deok of Sungshin Women's University said, "This incident occurred because the younger generation in Japan has not received proper historical education about the Kamikaze, the Rising Sun Flag, and the Japanese military 'comfort women'." He added, "Whenever such incidents happen, instead of only expressing anger and criticism, it is important to inform Hayata about the correct history of the Kamikaze, so I immediately informed her through my personal account."

Professor Seokyeong is reported to have informed Hayata via a protest email that "the Kamikaze was a suicide attack unit chosen as a last resort by Japan, which lacked military resources to stop the U.S. landing in the final stages of World War II."

Meanwhile, Hayata won against Shin Yubin in the bronze medal match of the Olympic women's singles. Although Shin Yubin was narrowly defeated, the scene where she calmly approached Hayata, shook hands, smiled, and hugged her became a hot topic. Hayata wore the singles bronze medal around her neck and also won a silver medal in the team event.