The recent emergence of YouTube advertisements promoting Japan’s Rising Sun Flag as part of traditional Japanese culture has raised concerns among the global Korean community. The ads, produced by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have been spotted on YouTube channels worldwide, including those targeting children in Canada.
One report from a Korean-Canadian community member noted that the advertisement claimed the Rising Sun Flag to be a beautiful representation of Japan’s cultural heritage. Similarly, an Indian community member reported seeing similar messages, further fueling concerns about the promotion of the flag in a misleading context.
VANK has confirmed that there has been a surge in reports from overseas Koreans in countries such as Canada and India, expressing alarm over the ongoing advertisements for the Rising Sun Flag, as well as others promoting Japanese issues such as the “Sea of Japan” and the safety of Fukushima agricultural products. Many of the reports emphasize that these ads continue to appear on platforms like YouTube.
The reports further highlight the distress of parents who are concerned that children watching these ads may be led to believe that the Rising Sun Flag is simply a symbol of Japan’s beauty, rather than a flag deeply associated with Japan’s militaristic past. These sentiments were expressed in a report from one community member, who stated, “Children watching these ads think it looks cool, which is infuriating.”
VANK also highlighted that a similar ad promoting the Rising Sun Flag was aired in Korean, sparking widespread outrage among Korean viewers. The organization believes that Japan’s efforts to advertise the flag as a symbol of cultural pride in various languages, including English, are an attempt to whitewash and romanticize the symbol, which is widely recognized as a war flag and a reminder of Japan’s imperialist past.
Park Ki-tae, the head of VANK, pointed out that Japan’s Rising Sun Flag campaign coincides with the growing global attention on Pachinko, the popular Apple TV+ drama series. Pachinko delves into the harsh experiences of Koreans during the Japanese occupation, including the 3.1 Movement, forced labor in Chikuho coal mines, and the exploitation of comfort women, shedding light on Japan’s wartime atrocities.
Park criticized Japan’s promotional efforts as a tactic to obscure historical truths and prevent the worldwide acknowledgment of its wartime responsibility. “The ads on YouTube, a platform with global influence, have become a megaphone for Japan’s efforts to avoid taking responsibility for its colonial past,” he said.
In response, VANK has urged Korean expatriates around the world to report sightings of these advertisements in their respective countries. The organization has also launched a campaign to call for the removal of the Rising Sun Flag ads on YouTube, encouraging individuals to join the movement and spread awareness.
To further mobilize global support, VANK has created posters calling for the prohibition of Rising Sun Flag advertisements. These posters are being distributed via social media, urging friends, family, and global citizens to join the effort and sign petitions to prevent the spread of historical distortion through such advertisements.2021