The’pig makeup’ that caused the Olympic coach to resign… Japanese comedian’s mature counterattack

The mature response of a female comedian who is caught up in the tumult of’Pig Dressing’ at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics is becoming a hot topic on Japanese social media. Japan’s popular comedian Naomi Watanabe (33) made a statement through her agency regarding the resignation of the general manager of the Tokyo Olympic Games opening and closing ceremony on the 18th. While refraining from criticizing the other person, comments that showed confidence as an entertainer are receiving favorable reviews such as “adult” and “fallen for dignity”.

Naomi Watanabe, a popular comedian who participated in events related to the Tokyo Olympics in May 2019. [AP=연합뉴스]

The controversy began on the 17th with the report of the weekly magazine’Shukanbunshun’ (週刊文春). The idea that Hiroshi Sasaki, 66, who was in charge of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, presented in the online group chat room of the team members in March last year became a problem.

He thinks that the final pronunciation of’Olympic’ is similar to’Pig’, which means pig, and he came up with the idea of ​​putting Watanabe, who was recruited as a performer at the opening ceremony, into a pig and putting it on the stage.

According to the profile posted on the agency’s website, Watanabe is 158 cm tall and weighs 107 kg. In various entertainment programs, he gained popularity by acting as a character full of confidence, regardless of people’s gaze.

Hiroshi Sasaki, creative director, was in charge of the opening and closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. [로이터=연합뉴스]

Reportedly, the idea was not adopted at the time because there were high opposition within the team, such as “insulting” and “not even at the level of an idea.” However, when this fact was revealed through Shukanbun-shun late, criticism poured out, saying, “It’s ridiculous to let someone with this mindset direct the opening ceremony.”

Director Sasaki was from Japan’s largest advertising company Dentsu, and at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dressed up as Mario of the game character “Super Mario Bros. .

A year ago, when the contents of the meeting became controversial, Director Sasaki issued an apology stating that “there was a very inappropriate expression in my thoughts and remarks in the process of exchanging ideas for the opening ceremony.” did.

The organizing committee, which suffered from measles a month ago by former chairman Yoshiro Mori’s contempt for a woman, immediately accepted the intention to resign.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared in Super Mario costume at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics. [AP=연합뉴스]

Afterwards, the public’s gaze was shifted to Watanabe, who became the subject of controversy regardless of his intentions. Watanabe said in a statement released on the 18th, “I am doing this work while fully understanding that I am big and I am being teased by my appearance.” .

He said, “I sincerely hope that each person respects each other’s individuality and thoughts, and recognizes each other so that the world will be enjoyable and enriching.

On Twitter, etc., Watanabe’s comments were praised as “a mature response.” On the one hand, however, there is a cautionary theory that “Watanabe’s response is certainly adult-like, but excessive praise can lead to repression of people who get angry or counterattack when they are wronged.”

Tokyo = Correspondent Lee Young-hee misquick@joongang.co.kr