Japanese table tennis star Hina Hayata (24), who won a bronze medal in the women’s individual table tennis event and a silver in the team event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was under controversy in an interview back home.
Hayata said at a press conference after returning to Japan’s Tokyo Haneda Airport on the 13th, “I’m not satisfied with the result. I want to challenge myself again to take all the bodies ultimately after four years.”
Hayata is well known as a player who shed tears after winning the bronze medal by beating Shin Yu-bin, the “national peepyak” in the individual bronze medal match. Shin Yu-bin unfortunately missed the medal, but he approached Hayata in person and smiled brightly and gave her a congratulatory hug.
When asked what Hayata wanted to do after returning home, he raised controversy. “I want to go to the Anpanman Museum. I also want to visit a special public museum in Kagoshima and feel that it is natural to be alive and to play table tennis.”
Japanese broadcaster NHK explained, “Facilities related to special construction in Kagoshima Prefecture include the ‘Jiran Special Construction Peace Center’ in Minami-Kyushu City, the ‘Mansae Special Construction Peace Memorial Hall’ in Minami-Satsuma City, and the ‘Kaya Air Base Feed Center’ in Kagaya City.”
Japanese media, including NHK, shed light on Hayata’s remarks. “I am truly grateful. I hope this interview will serve as an opportunity for many young people to visit and learn about the history of the special mission and to consider respecting life,” said Hiroichiro Kawasaki, director of the Jiran Peace Center after hearing Hayata’s remarks. 안전놀이터
The Jiran Special Military Peace Center is a memorial hall built at the end of World War II in Jiran, where the training center and launching site for the Japanese Kamikaze Commando (Suicide Commando) are located. It collects, preserves and displays various historical records related to the Kamikaze Commando.
Ten years ago, in 2014, Japan’s plan to list the will of the Kamikaze Commando here as a World Heritage Site was in vain.
At the time, China criticized the Japanese military with a strong tone, saying that the intention was to glorify the history of Japanese militarism’s invasion. He also recalled that Japan committed numerous crimes against humanity during World War II. The Kamikaze commandos also included young Korean pilots who were mobilized by the Japanese military after being forcibly conscripted.
Hayata’s comments immediately ran into controversy again this time. According to Japan’s Chunichi Shimbun, Hayata’s personal social media were lined with comments in Chinese, such as “Do you know this infamous place is a place of militarism?” “You worship the invader when innocent people and soldiers have been slaughtered,” and “The Japanese can never be trusted.”
“Kyodo News” also said, “There are voices on the Chinese Internet that Hayata has crossed a line that cannot be exceeded.”
Chinese portal Sohu Dotcom said on the afternoon of the 15th that “Hayata has not yet apologized.”
Chinese media reported that two Olympic table tennis medalists (Sun Yingxia and Pan Jian-dong) unfollowed Hayata as they were disappointed by her remarks. An Olympic star’s remarks are likely to escalate into an international political issue.