Japan’s Olympic ‘scandals’ mark the arrival of cancel culture

Things are going from bad to worse for Tokyo’s cursed Olympics. Just a month after Yoshiro Mori, the former PM, and ex-head of the Tokyo Olympic organising committee was forced to quit for suggesting female members should have their speaking time rationed, along comes another storm in a green tea cup, and yet another resignation. 

The latest fiasco concerns comments made by Hiroshi Sasaki, the now former creative director of the opening and closing ceremonies about the actress, comedian and fashion designer Naomi Watanabe. Watanabe, a ubiquitous presence on the inane and exhaustingly upbeat variety shows that dominate TV here, is known as the ‘Japanese Beyoncé’ for the impressions of the American singer, which brought her to prominence.

The nickname is somewhat ironic, however. There is no physical resemblance. Watanabe is a larger lady, who has become a figurehead of the ‘pochakawaii’ movement (chubby and cute). She is something of a standard bearer for plus sized Japanese girls, and is often filmed in TV commercials surrounded by svelte beauties, making the point – again and again – that she belongs in such company and has nothing to be ashamed of.