"Kamikaze" Used as Names for Foreign Restaurants, Parks, and Companies: "If They Knew the Meaning, They Wouldn't Use It"

An Asian restaurant in Lisbon, Portugal, using Kamikaze as its trade name. Professor Seo Kyungduk

There is ongoing controversy as many places around the world still use "Kamikaze" as a trade name.

"Kamikaze" refers to the suicide attack squads that Japan resorted to as a last measure during World War II, when it lacked the military resources to prevent the landing of U.S. forces.

Professor Seo Kyungduk of Sungshin Women's University stated on August 26, "Netizens have reported this issue," adding, "The name is being used in various places such as an Asian restaurant in Lisbon, Portugal, a mobile amusement park in Australia, and a well-known record company in Thailand."

Professor Seo added, "I plan to send protest emails to the reported businesses soon," explaining, "It is important to properly inform them of the history of Kamikaze so that they can change their trade names."

Mobile amusement park in Australia named Kamikaze. Professor Seo Kyungduk

During the recent Qatar World Cup, controversy arose when Japanese supporters were seen cheering while holding Kamikaze T-shirts. Professor Seo immediately reported the incident to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and requested measures to prevent recurrence.

Thanks to persistent protests, there was also the achievement of changing the name of the Kamikaze emoticon used in the widely used messenger program "Telegram." In 2014, Japan caused significant controversy by attempting to register the farewell letters of Kamikaze pilots as UNESCO's Memory of the World.

Professor Seo emphasized, "We must continue to inform the world about the historical significance of Kamikaze to ensure that such incidents never happen again."