Japan: Imagining Future Japanese-Korean Relations with ‘Free Hugs’ · Global Voices
Mari Wakimoto

Below is a video showing a performance by a young Japanese man in Seoul, Korea; he is holding a sign reading “Free Hugs for Peace”. The video was made about one year ago, in the summer of 2011. The creator, Koichi Kuwabara, began to attract the attention of Twitter users anxious about Japan-Korea relations, soon after the video was introduced [ja].
In fact, in August 2012, tensions in the relations between the two nations were exacerbated. On August 10, South Korean President Lee became the first incumbent president to set foot [ja] on the islands of Takeshima, which ignited a sovereignty dispute between both nations.
Japanese Prime Minster Noda held a special press conference [ja] on August 24, in which he emphasized that “Takeshima is a territory belonging to Japan”, and suggested that a reduction in the Japan-Korea currency swap agreement should be considered.
Rumors of increasing tensions between the two nations have been talked about on a daily basis, in the media and on the Internet since the events of August. Amidst this uproar, Koichi Kuwabara's video spread via Twitter, and has touched the hearts of many viewers [ja]:
@megumoyamamoto: もう連日の報道にうんざりなので、心にしみた。
@NADA_DANCHI: どこの国でもいい人わるい人、両方いるんだよね。新しい世代で過去を反省共有しながら更に前進したいものだ。フリーハグ…マイケルの曲抜いても涙でそうだ。新しい世代！
@aytkk:【拡散希望】取りあえずこの動画をみるだけで何かが変わる気がする＾＾
Considering these positive reviews, user @hyonggi [ja] analyzed the hostility towards South Korea of some “netizens” who exercise influence on the internet:
この動画に出てくる「向こうに行けというジェスチャーで妨害するおっさん」だけを
編集して取り上げるような事をしている人達が「ネトウヨ」とか「ネチズン」って事なんだろう。
Also, in comments on the portal website Hatena, y043 [ja] noted the date on which the video was posted, and wrote:
2011/08/27にアップロードだから一年前の出来事か。今やっても同じ反応であって欲しいけど。
While increasing numbers voiced their approval, @617utogs [ja] had some candid advice for Twitter users who admired the video:
当人がやるのは勝手だし素敵だけど、わざわざ今ツイートすることではないと思う。
こういうツイート見て国家間の問題と混同する人が出てくるのは嫌だな
Furthermore, many negative comments were posted on YouTube, including those by user tenmer100323 [ja]:
現実を見ない薄っぺらい乙女チックな平和願望と自己満足な行動。
韓国との国交断絶を切に望む。
The creator of the video, Koichi Kuwabara, describes why it was made, in comments [ja] on his blog:
僕はマスメディアが報じない韓国の真実の姿を見せたかったし
「日本と韓国はお互いうまくやっていけるんだ。」
「両国の未来に希望はあるんだ。」
ということを証明したかった。
He also made an appeal [ja] for cooperation:
い～ろんな意見がネット上に飛び交ってますが
このビデオを見て、素直に自分の心で感じたことが正しいことだと思います。
「自分が感じたことを良い方向へもっていくにはどうすればいいか？」
解決策を一緒に探しませんか？