TV Asahi and Yomiuri Shimbun reported that security guards had apprehended two Japanese tourists in their twenties at the Great Wall of China. The incident involved a man exposing his buttocks while a woman filmed him. They were detained for two weeks before being ordered to leave the country.
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Japanese embassy in China was informed of their detention on January 3. The two later returned to Japan, claiming it was merely a prank during an interview.
In China, exposing one’s lower body in public places is illegal and subject to punishment under the Public Security Administration Punishment Law.
The incident has sparked outrage in both countries. On China’s social media platform, Weibo, a hashtag referring to the detention of these tourists garnered over 60 million views. Comments included accusations of shameful behavior at the Great Wall, calls for banning Japanese entry, and expressions of insult.
The majority of Japanese people echoed these sentiments, expressing embarrassment as fellow Japanese and calling for stricter penalties, with remarks such as, “Don’t imitate foolish behavior in China,” and “This is problematic regardless of nationality.” However, a minority speculated that the incident could be part of China’s anti-Japan propaganda efforts, noting that disruptive behavior by Chinese tourists is a problem.
