Japanese netizens are furiously attacking “Pachinko,” a more destructive thing than any history book
Japanese netizens are furious at the Apple TV+ series “Pachinko.”
The recently released Apple TV+ original series “Pachinko” is a delicate and warm story about the hopes and dreams of Korean immigrant families.
Based on the New York Times bestselling book of the same name, “Pachinko” depicts the real stories experienced by the Koreans living in Joseon and the Zainichis (Koreans in Japan) surviving in Japan from the Japanese colonial era to the post-liberation period.
“Pachinko” is facing strong opposition from Japanese netizens because of its content.
Japanese netizens are raising their voices through SNS that the content of “Pachinko” is based on a novel that manipulates history and can only be seen as a one-sided claim from Korea.
These netizens spread a forced claim that an American actor in “Pachinko” was deceived by these Korean lies and decided to appear, as well as leaving malicious comments when that actor posted a promotional post on his SNS about how the series was based on a true story. They also spread rumors that the author of “Pachinko” had funded North Korea’s missile development and protested against any overseas media that had written favorable reviews about “Pachinko.”
even Hansu realized the cruelty of his own words. #Pachinko #PachinkoEp3 #파친코 pic.twitter.com/6M8Iki8fwQ
— odie (@ttojunie) March 25, 2022
This is because “Pachinko” relatively deals with the Japanese colonial era in detail. The drama naturally incorporates historical facts such as Japanese rice exploitation, forced labor, Sexual Slavery in the Japanese Military, and the Kanto massacres after the Great Kanto Earthquake that occurred to the Koreans who were residing in Japan. The story also contains a discriminatory view of the Japanese local community toward the Zainichi, who lived in Japan but instead of becoming Japanese, they remained Koreans.
Japanese netizens argue that “Pachinko”, which points out the misdeeds and disgrace of Japan during its colonial period in Korea and has been receiving positive reviews from foreign media outlets, are fake.
However, to prevent any controversy over historical distortion in advance, the production crew of “Pachinko” has put effort into consulting 20-40 historians and experts in The Great Kanto earthquake, the Kanto massacres, etc. Historian Shim Yong-hwan recently revealed on KBS 2TV’s “Problem Child in House” that the “Pachinko” crew sought very detailed advice from him. For example, in the scene set in the 1920s where a child was given candy, he was even consulted if candy was eaten at that time. Or in the scene where the fisherman sang, he was asked if the beat of the song was correct.
“Pachinko” is a drama-centric series, not a documentary. Screenwriter Soo Hugh said, “I tried to make it as accurate as possible by writing while referring to history. At the same time, I wanted to deal with emotions rather than dry stories like a history book.”
Based on historical facts, “Pachinko” is a work that focuses on building a solid story so that viewers around the world can immerse themselves in the lives and emotions of the characters. As a result, it can provide information on the tragedy that occurred in the Joseon dynasty during that period more naturally and effectively than a history book.
I didn’t watch this yet but I think this is awesome series
Japão sempre reclamando de algo. Em The eternal Monarch reclamaram da arquitetura, a flr simbolo do reino ficticio, navios etc.
Japão controle-se!
I’m watching it and to be honest it’s one of the best series ever… Like I can feel every emotions of the characters…I even cried
.. this is amazing… and rather than focusing on historical society, focus on life of people living in Japan Era. We have now developed and no-one is under other countries control…but it was a time when the weaker countries were ruled by powerful one… So rather than fighting…try to understand the situation. Thanks.
Seems that the story line may be showing a bitter truth. It’s more painful when you strike on the wound. Maybe, this was the reason why Japs netizens are angry. Although the decades passed by and present Japs are much more changed, history is history and no one could not lie. If the story line is not correct they should prove it.
As a Myanmar citizen, our country had had a bitter experience during the World War 2 Japanese invasion. They were extremely cruel to our citizens. We were paid War Indemnity by the then Japanese Government but we had learned a lot about the then Japanese invasion through our school text books. Nowadays, the suffering is gone but the history stays. People like us who haven’t gone through like our ancestors are fine with present Japs.
No wonder if Koreans suffered the same.
Anyway, the series is so good. I would suggest – let by gone be by gone.
And, I don’t understand why Lee Min Ho is being blamed for his English pronunciation. He’s a Korean not an American. Funny to hear that. I myself speak British English and not American English although I am living in the US. Who cares?