PHOTOS Japan's TV Asahi cancels BTS appearance over T-shirt controversy
BTS member Jimin wearing the controversial “liberation” T-shirt. Captured from blog Maybugs
By Lee Min-young
BTS' live performance in Japan has been cancelled amid allegations that one member has been involved in anti-Japanese activities.
The band's management agency Big Hit Entertainment announced on Thursday that group's appearance on TV Asahi's Music Station program slated for Nov. 9 has been called off.
The controversy arose recently when a Japanese media report accused the South Korean boy band of being anti-Japanese, taking issue with a T-shirt BTS member Jimin was seen wearing with photos and letters commemorating the Korean liberation day imprinted on it.
Tokyo-based TV Asahi also said it had decided to cancel the performance after talking to the band's agency over the controversial T-shirt.
The T-shirt design in question imprinted with photos and letters celebrating Korean Independence Day. Captured from blog Maybugs
The T-shirt had photos of Koreans celebrating independence, an atomic bomb being dropped on Japan, along with the words “PATRIOTISM, OUR HISTORY, LIBERATION,” and ”KOREA.”
The group recently returned home from a jam-packed overseas tour and is due to begin an Asian tour next week. Starting from Tokyo on Tuesday, BTS will perform in Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka through Feb. 17.