In a recent media interview, the administrator of Watatsumi Shrine on Japan’s Tsushima Island, which has displayed signs prohibiting entry to Koreans since February, sparked controversy by claiming that “most Korean visitors disdain Japanese culture.”
Hirayama Yuichi, who introduced himself as a priest at Watatsumi Shrine, shared in an interview with the Japanese far-right media Sankei Shimbun on the 18th, “(Korean) nuisance behaviors are not a part of it,” adding, “While there are some good Koreans, most disrespect Japanese culture and regard the shrine merely as a theme park attraction, based on my extensive experience.”
Watatsumi Shrine, which has been established for over 1000 years, is visited by many Korean tourists. The shrine claimed that they experience up to 10 incidents per day, such as unauthorized smoking, littering of cigarette butts, and verbal abuse.
Hirayama said, “We are not dealing with just one or two people,” stating, “Hundreds of thousands of Koreans visit here and engage in unpleasant behavior. As a shrine administrator and priest, I am mentally and physically exhausted.”
He said that Korean visitors threw stones at the sacred stone of the sea god, Isora Ebisu, known as the mother of the first Emperor of Japan. He added, “I deeply regret the respect towards Japanese traditional culture and the casual treatment of precious cultures from other countries, which fills me with anger and many thoughts.” Regarding criticism that signs prohibiting entry to Koreans are discriminatory, he pointed out, “Failing to address the phenomenon of over-tourism from indifferent visitors can result in national interests being compromised.”
Hirayama urged Japanese tourists, not Koreans, to visit the shrine. He stated, “If Japanese people stop being indifferent and start thinking about Japan in 100 or 1000 years, focusing on the island of Tsushima could lead to measures against tourism pollution and even connect to national defense.” He added, “I hope many Japanese will come to visit.”