Why This Topic Landed in Japan

Japan crushed Tunisia 4-0 in the World Cup group stage, and Tokyo's Shibuya crossing swelled with celebrating fans — yet there was no looting or vandalism, which drew astonished praise from French and other overseas observers. Pride in that order coexisted with self-criticism of the noisy young crowd. The sharper flashpoint, though, was that Japanese broadcasters blurred a Rising Sun flag spotted in the footage, which netizens read as excessive deference to Korea and as fresh proof that legacy media can't be trusted. Long-running flag disputes with Korea and distrust of domestic media fused with the euphoria of the win.

Key Reaction Themes

  • Pride — and cool-headedness — in “not looting” — Foreign praise was happily received, but many calmly noted that “rioting is the abnormal behavior,” not the restraint.
  • Self-criticism of the home crowd — Plenty criticized the young people blocking traffic at the crossing, and realists warned the calm only lasts while immigration stays low.
  • Anger at the flag mosaic — “Will they blur the Self-Defense Forces' ensign and the Asahi Shimbun's own flag too?” — the blur was attacked as excessive deference and proof of media bias.

What Japanese Netizens Are Saying

Overseas astonishment at Shibuya's order and manners

After the 4-0 win, Shibuya saw no looting or vandalism, leaving French and other observers astonished — “it's crazy, every car is intact.”

Comments:

  • "Enough with the self-congratulation."
  • "Even being generous — I'd get it if you lost, but even when you won...? That's crazy."
  • "The people who loot and riot aren't poor, they're just base."
  • "Japan, by contrast, is too quiet."
  • "Even high-fiving a stranger is already too rowdy by Japanese standards."
  • "This only lasts while Japan still has few immigrants."
  • "I think this every time... I don't get the point of making a huge racket in the streets... Don't be a nuisance to others, I always think. Celebrating is fine, but pick your spot — you're adults, aren't you?"
  • "So in France even winning leads to riots and looting? How idiotic."
  • "It really is the safest country in the world. Even if people say security's gotten bad, it's nothing serious."
  • "Can we finally accept that looting just for the vibe is the abnormal thing?"

Backlash over broadcasters mosaicking the Rising Sun flag

Broadcasters blurred a fan's Rising Sun flag in the Shibuya footage, drawing concentrated criticism of “excessive deference” and media bias.

Source: 2ch

Comments:

  • "This is exactly why they get hated."
  • "Legacy media you really can't trust."
  • "So when a camera points at you, just shield yourself with a Rising Sun flag, got it."
  • "Are they going to blur the Self-Defense Forces' Rising Sun ensign too? lol"
  • "Apply the flag-desecration law to this — they're treating it like it's obscene material."
  • "The old-media folks who turn into monkeys at the sight of a Rising Sun flag must have a rough life."
  • "It's not “legacy media,” it's anti-Japan media."
  • "Are they going to mosaic the Asahi Shimbun's corporate flag too?"
  • "Will the naval ensign also have to be mosaicked now?"
  • "“It's also the Asahi Shimbun's own flag...” — they'd have to blur that too to be consistent, since it's clearly based on the Rising Sun design."