Why This Topic Landed in Japan

Friction with inbound tourism — bad manners at famous sites and resentment at crowds swollen by the weak yen — fed a "Japan is not a theme park" backlash. At the same time, figures who win the world's respect on pure merit, like Ohtani and the national soccer team, gave netizens a cathartic "silence the haters" feeling. Both foreign praise and foreign criticism end up touching the same nerve of national identity. The Sensoji clip was said online to feature UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van and his entourage, though that identification could not be independently verified.

Key Reaction Themes

  • "Japan is not a playground" — Criticism of the Sensoji swordplay, plus distrust of a justice system seen as too soft on foreigners.
  • "Then please don't come" — Korea's anger at the tourist tax is brushed off as a welcome chance to ease overtourism.
  • "Settle it on the field" — Strong praise and catharsis when Ohtani and the national squad overturn outside opinion through performance.

What Japanese Netizens Are Saying

Foreigners' "swordplay" clip at Sensoji

A clip of kimono-clad foreigners swinging replica swords drew criticism; the group was identified online as UFC champion Joshua Van's entourage.

Sources:

Comments:

  • "Akuma: 'Is this the samurai spirit?'"
  • "You can't buy class."
  • "That's the kind of thing you grow out of in middle school... so foreigners have the inner maturity of a middle-schooler, I take it?"
  • "Japan is the foreigners' playground, right? Don't you dare complain."
  • "A pathetically weak government that can't defy the UN, the WWII victors, or GHQ is what lets foreigners get cocky."
  • "A treasure of the Free Immigration Party."
  • "He's 24 and acting like a kindergartener."
  • "Such a shame — if it were a Korean actor or idol they'd be showered with praise."
  • "Police: 'The "treasure" is innocent, you stupid Japanese.'"

Korean tourists balk at a tripled tax

Japan's tourist (departure) tax reportedly tripling to 3,000 yen drew Korean pushback of "we won't come anymore," met mostly with a dismissive "then please don't."

Sources:

instagram cafe daum

Comments:

  • "Rough on budget travelers, lol."
  • "3,000 yen? That's way too cheap."
  • "Now they can't use the excuse that they only come because it's cheap."
  • "Cheapskates who throw a fit over a mere 2,000-yen increase don't need to come."
  • "Overtourism is getting serious, so we don't need tourists who can't pay a decent fee."
  • "The boomer leftists who say 'Japan is poor' — I wonder what they think of people screaming over 3,000 yen?"
  • "Screaming in agony over a mere 3,000 yen. Just how poor are they really?"
  • "I burst out laughing — for a tripling it's 3,000 yen, not 30,000. Way too cheap."
  • "It's only 3,000 yen, you know?"
  • "But it's a departure tax, so Japanese travelers get charged too."

Ohtani answers the "overrated" chants

After an "Ohtani is overrated" pile-on, the Dodgers put up 10 runs. Netizens savored the taunt becoming a jinx that backfired.

Sources:

Game Chat 6/9 - Dodgers (42-24) @ Pirates (34-32) 3:40 PM : r/Dodgers

Comments:

  • "Overrated? You can't win unanimous MVP three times being overrated."
  • "We might as well start counting a fifth one already."
  • "The 'Shohei sucks' chant turned into a complete jinx flag."
  • "The Pirates' official account was taunting him, so when he put up 10 runs I couldn't help saying 'serves you right.' Planting flags is a bad idea."
  • "After the game the Pirates' official X didn't post the score, just 'we'll spare you the details' — that's exquisite too."
  • "Telling a player this beloved by the gods to 'sell the team' is beyond hilarious."
  • "Why did they suddenly start taunting? There's no rivalry or bad blood at all."
  • "Insulting a player giving it his all is no fun to watch. I'd rather praise great players and plays regardless of which side they're on."

Japan called the World Cup's "most fun" team

Japan's squad was praised abroad as potentially the World Cup's most entertaining team, with positive reactions to its organized tactics.

Sources:

Comments:

  • "Their organized defense and attack hold up even against powerhouses. Granted, strong teams won't sit back in a block and play the way Japan finds hardest to break down."