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How big a wave can a signboard make on the international stage? When a Chinese blogger saw that unpleasant remark at a hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo, he decided to stand up for his rights.
What kind of story is this, and why did it spark heated discussions between the two countries? What kind of truth is hidden behind the signboard?
1. Harassment caused by Japan's ban
When the Fukushima nuclear power plant began to discharge nuclear sewage, not only the Japanese people were worried, but many Chinese people also expressed their concerns about the future marine environment and seafood safety on social platforms.
As a close neighbor of Japan, China naturally feels particularly concerned about this matter. On social platforms, for a while, the topic of Fukushima nuclear sewage became a hot search, and many Chinese people expressed concerns about the future marine environment and seafood safety.
Taking into account the concerns of the people, the Chinese government has decided to take measures to completely ban the import of Japanese aquatic products to ensure the safety of people's diet. The decision was well received by the general public, who saw it as a smart move by the government to protect people's health.
However, the move caused great repercussions in Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Minister of Economy and Finance Yasuminoru Nishimura, and Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tetsuro Nomura all reacted strongly, believing that China's approach had no scientific basis and was an unfair treatment of Japanese exports, so they urgently wrote to the Chinese government hoping to lift the ban.
Meanwhile, harassing phone calls occurred. Perhaps due to misunderstandings caused by the spread of information or the behavior of some extreme individuals, the Japanese embassy, restaurants in the Fukushima area, and Chinese embassies and consulates in Japan have been plagued by a large number of harassing phone calls. Some of these calls expressed anger, while others appealed, hoping for a clear answer.
2. The "special" sign of Shinjuku Hotel
One day, while wandering around the Shinjuku area, a Chinese blogger came across a restaurant sign that read, "Tell Chinese that all our ingredients are made in Fukushima Prefecture." This made the blogger feel very unwell and immediately called the police. The Japanese police quickly intervened and questioned the owner.
He explained that the original purpose was simply to inform customers of the origin of his ingredients, and nothing else. He believes that such labeling makes customers more confident about choosing his restaurant, because he believes that Fukushima's ingredients have been rigorously tested and safe.
But the blogger isn't buying it, insisting that the expression goes beyond simple ingredient descriptions and has a clear point. The police also agree with this view, arguing that the specific mention of "Chinese" in the sign is undoubtedly discriminatory to some extent.
An old man who happened to pass by participated in this discussion. He claimed to be a lawyer and pointed out that there was a legal problem with the words on the signboard, which violated the principles of fair competition and consumer protection.
After coordination by the police, as well as legal advice from the elderly, the owner finally chose to change the sign and apologized to the blogger. Although the incident was calmed down, the news quickly attracted a lot of attention and discussion on social media. People have said that even abroad, they should uphold their rights and interests and not tolerate any form of discrimination and infringement.
After coordination by the police, the owner decided to change the sign and apologize to the blogger.
3. Public opinion reactions of the media and netizens
After the incident was exposed, it immediately aroused heated discussions among the media and netizens of the two countries. Shoko Egawa, a well-known Japanese journalist, said that this statement is indeed aimed at Chinese. Japanese netizens also said that they suggested that they could change it to: "Dear Chinese tourists, the ingredients in our store are all produced in Fukushima Prefecture, please feel free to enter the store to eat", which would be better.
On Chinese social media, most netizens praised the blogger and the lawyer who happened to pass by, arguing that everyone should bravely defend their rights and interests and not tolerate any form of discrimination.
However, a few netizens believe that this signboard may be because of the Fukushima incident, and only China has adopted a ban, so the signboard directly mentions Chinese.
But whether for or against, this event provides an opportunity for the people of China and Japan to reflect: how to better understand and respect different cultures and perspectives in a globalized and pluralistic world? How to avoid a small oversight that causes a bigger social problem?
In the context of globalization, countries interact more and more frequently, and a small detail can be magnified into an international focus. The Shinjuku Hotel Signboard Incident is not just about a signboard, it reflects the intertwining of the cultural, emotional and political backgrounds of both countries, and reminds us that every action can have a profound impact. We should treat other cultures and countries with respect, understanding and communication in order to build an international community living in harmony.