Japanese TV Celebrity Weathers Dokdo Storm

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

The issue of Japanese claims to Korea's Dokdo Islets is especially sensitive to Koreans, and Rie Akiba, a Japanese panelist on KBS' "Global Talk Show: Talk with Beauties," has found herself in hot water when she claimed that while Koreans "discovered" the islets, it was the Japanese who named it. "I can't really say which country Dokdo belongs to," she told the DongA Weekly earlier this month.

As a result, last month was the most difficult time of her three years in Korea, and she has naturally learned to watch her mouth. "I was asked about the Dokdo issue, and I just said what I'd been told in Japan," she says now. "Because I'm not an expert, I said I didn't really know much about it. I certainly didn't mean any offense, so I was really puzzled after the interview. In fact, there aren't that many young Japanese people who are interested in the issue."

Akiba got a flood of complaints on her blog, including some history lessons "from which I learned a lot." "I'm sorry for causing all this trouble," she adds.

Appearing on the popular multinational chat show has changed her life. "I don't think the difficulties are just because I'm Japanese," she says. "I think it's something that anybody can feel when they live in a foreign country. Getting to know a country means you get to see both the good and the bad things. Even though you observe bad things about the people in that country, you don't necessarily leave."

Akiba was first attracted to Korea when she coincidentally appeared in a music video for 1990s boy band GOD as a high school student. Before then, she was an ordinary schoolgirl who didn't have much interest in Korea. But soon she began to travel to Korea frequently and ended up moving here. "After I came to Korea, I studied Korean so hard. Then I got to appear on the program by chance," she recalls.

"Initially, I promised my parents that I would come back to Japan after a year. They still want me back, but I want to stay here. There isn't a one reason for this, though." She dreams of marrying a Korean man. "I don't know, but I have a feeling that I will marry a Korean in Korea. I don't have a particular type, but I like somebody who is committed to what he does. If he can be committed to his job, then I believe he will be committed to a woman, too."

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

Comments

[yvonne-b.livejournal.com]

lol poor bb

at least she learned not to f with koreans concerning dokdo lol

[visual-jaeho.livejournal.com]

I feel sorry for the poor girl...

[liu-zhoucheng.livejournal.com]

If he can be committed to his job, then I believe he will be committed to a woman, too
lol if only that were true

[youanditogether.livejournal.com]

mte. u_u

[centric-xx.livejournal.com]

someone explain this to me. idgi :|

[mylittlebambi.livejournal.com]

it's about the dispute between korea & japan about an island. both countries claimed the island is theirs, in korea they call it dokdo and in japan the name is takeshima. being a japanese of course she was raised with the knowledge that the island is takeshima, in japan territory & owned by japan. she's probably not aware enough that it's still sensitive issue in korea and that a lot of koreans still hold grudge against japan, perhaps she said something related to who owns the island....

[shanny-w.livejournal.com]

I think it's cute she wants to stay in Korea and marry a Korean man. Damn this Dokdo thing gets heated easily. I just try to move away from the topic when talking to Japanese or Korean friends if it's ever brought up.

[allthingsgood.livejournal.com]

i thought that was uee when i first saw this post.

[sexi-panda.livejournal.com]

so did I Oo

[kellygreen.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I think the only answer she could have given that would have appeased the Koreans would be something like, "Dokdo belongs to Korea and always has and btw Japan sucks." Poor girl...

[pabogateunfish.livejournal.com]

oh bb. i like her though. ♥

[tribuo-venerati.livejournal.com]

I feel bad for the poor girl.

[kawaiiairbender.livejournal.com]

I would have not spoke on those islands personally. But she comes from a Japanese education so of course she wouldn't know. poor bb :(

[duriancake.livejournal.com]

this is my general thought most of the time when i see the netizens complaining about something. :|

[dream-a-dreamer.livejournal.com]

I thought the show had ended when the whole production crew quit.

[chiamharkem.livejournal.com]

I think its mean that they even asked her that in the first place.

[tsuyogari.livejournal.com]

I kind of think they just set her up for that one. Should have asked her about Apolo Ohno and comfort women while they were at it...

[skylight03.livejournal.com]

I thought the girl was UEE.

[xshinebrighterx.livejournal.com]

what was she supposed to say? srsly
it's not like she said the island belonged to japan

[lilykt7.livejournal.com]

sensitive issue is sensitive, blame the show for even asking her about it, it was a stupid move.

[duriancake.livejournal.com]

i think it was mean of them to ask her in the first place. they were probably hoping to stir up trouble. besides, what could she have said? it belongs to korea? then the japanese would have gotten mad lolol. i'm just somewhat amused that she gave an ambivalent answer and the koreans are pissed off but the japanese aren't, considering she didn't explicitly say it belonged to japan even though she is japanese.

[heyahala.livejournal.com]

wow, korea can really win no. 1 for the most sensitive country

[stopthedisco.livejournal.com]

... the Middle East?

[matineelove.livejournal.com]

Ugh.
They know its something sensitive with the 2 countries, the best thing to do would be to not talk about it.
No matter what you say, it'll be a big issue :/

[meccamputech.livejournal.com]

she gave a pretty neutral answer towards a sensitive topic and people are pissed off about it. CMON SON

[merely-a-facade.livejournal.com]

Korea & Japan -- can you guys please kiss and make up already? :/ Japan just admit that you were insufferable in WWII (this is coming from a person whose country was invaded by Japan -- Indonesia), srsly :/

[erbalurbal.livejournal.com]

I thought that was sunny then my eyes focused and I thought it was UEE lol

There seem to be a lot of sensitive issues that foreigners can't talk about in Korea. Poor girl

[extraenchanted.livejournal.com]

I don't really see why reporters had to ask her about that sensitive topic. It's not like she's an expert. She's a normal Japanese girl who was raised in Japan and doesn't know about Korea's side. Either way, even if she didn't answer it people will criticize her just because she's Japanese. :/ I feel sorry for her.

[newlines.livejournal.com]

and plus it doesn't seem like the japanese are making a huge deal out of it like the koreans are... im sure there are plenty of them, but i dont know about the majority. im not a japanese expert :/