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Japanese news outlet backs fans displaying rising sun flags against Korea
An official in a uniform, right, orders a fan at Tokyo Dome to take down the rising sun flag during the championship final of the 2019 WBSC Premier 12 between Korea and Japan on Nov. 17, 2019. Yonhap
By Ko Dong-hwan
By Ko Dong-hwan
Seo Kyoung-duk
A Japanese news outlet on Wednesday backed fans using rising sun flags to cheer and support the Japanese team during the World Baseball Classic, fueling tension between Japan and Korea over the controversial flag, which symbolizes Japan's colonial rule over Korea during World War II.
A news report by Tokyo Sports Press said the tournament organizer does not apply any regulations against the flag and using it does not violate any rule during the event.
The report came after popular Korean heritage promoter and activist Seo Kyoung-duk said on Facebook that he will monitor matches throughout the tournament to find any use of the flag by Japanese fans and report the activity to the event organizer as well as to news reporters across the world.
The Japanese news report said that the prohibition of the flag during the tournament is misinformation asserted by Korea. It said the WBC match between Japan and Korea scheduled for Friday is causing concerns about the use of the flag.
Seo, a professor at Sungshin Women's University known for his promotion of Korean culture abroad, caught up with the report and expressed on Facebook, Thursday, his determination to draw global attention to the issue and bring “shame” on those using the controversial flag to cheer and support their country.
Participants at a rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on March 1 tear apart a rising sun flag. The March 1st Independence Movement Day in Korea commemorates the historical large-scale rally by Koreans in 1919 demanding the country's liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Newsis
“This will be a good chance to raise awareness among the international community about the flag that, just like the swastika, is a symbol of war crimes,” Seo said. “Even the country's major sports news outlet has tried to prove that using the flag is legitimate. It's no more than an action that denies what the country did colonizing countries during the war.”
Seo also reminded his audience that the flag was banned in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. “I will bring the same embarrassment if that flag flutters again this time,” he said.
The rising sun has frequently appeared among Japanese audiences in international sports matches in the past. Supporters of Japanese players who wore apparel flashing the big red circle with beaming red strokes and waved giant flags covered with similar designs annoyed Korean viewers as they were reminded of the dark history. On March 1, the statutory holiday that commemorates a historical rally by Koreans in 1919 who demanded liberation from Japanese colonial rule, saw a giant rising sun flag ripped apart during a rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul as a protest against Japan's reluctance to admit its war crimes.
Historical observers often compare Japan to Germany, a country that was led by dictator Adolf Hitler during World War II who massacred millions of Jews. After the war, Germany acknowledged its atrocities and remains sensitive, respectful and repentant to the victims.
The main round of the WBC opened on Wednesday, putting Korea and Japan in Pool B alongside three other countries. The two countries will face off on Friday, with the match being held in Tokyo, a home-ground game for the Japanese team. The Tokyo Dome is expected to be packed with Japanese fans.