"Yi Sun-sin is not allowed, but Toyotomi is?" Japan faces 'do as I say, not as I do' controversy... Toyotomi appears openly at the 'Festival of Peace' AG Athletes' Village event

*This content was translated by AI.

"Yi Sun-sin is not allowed, but Toyotomi is?"

As the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games approach, a controversy has erupted over historical figures. This occurred because a person portraying Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who instigated the Imjin War, appeared at the official docking ceremony of a large cruise ship serving as the athletes' village.

Nagoya-based Japanese broadcaster Metere reported on the 15th that the large cruise ship "Costa Serena," which will serve as accommodation for the Asian Games delegation, docked at Nagoya Port.

The Costa Serena is a large cruise ship with a length of approximately 290 meters and a gross tonnage of about 110,000 tons. It features approximately 1,500 cabins and includes fitness facilities and a dining hall with seating for 2,500 people on board.

During the tournament, it will effectively serve as a "cruise ship athletes' village." From the 15th until October 6, it will be moored at Nagoya Kinko Futo for 22 days, with approximately 4,000 athletes and others expected to stay there.

The controversial scene came from an official event commemorating the cruise ship's docking.

At the event on that day, individuals dressed as warriors symbolizing Japan's Sengoku period appeared, including Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

All of them are historical figures with deep ties to the current Aichi Prefecture area and are utilized as representative tourism and cultural content locally.

However, views on Toyotomi's appearance could not be different. This is because Toyotomi invaded Joseon in 1592 and instigated the Imjin War.

Given that this Asian Games is an international multi-sport event emphasizing exchange and harmony among Asian nations, questions have been raised as to whether it was appropriate to feature Toyotomi at an official welcoming event for delegations.

Moreover, it is inevitably compared to the "Yi Sun-sin banner" controversy that occurred at the Tokyo Olympics five years ago.

At that time, the Korean delegation hung a banner on the exterior wall of the Tokyo athletes' village with the text: "I still have the support and encouragement of 50 million citizens."

This was a cheer slogan parodying General Yi Sun-sin's words during the Imjin War: "I still have 12 ships."

However, Japanese media raised voices questioning this as a political message, and Japanese right-wing groups held protests in front of the athletes' village.

Eventually, the Korean delegation removed the banner.

Five years later at this Asian Games, the opposite scene unfolded.

This is a scene that invites criticism of "double standards," contrasting with the Tokyo Olympics when the Korean delegation hung a banner parodying General Yi Sun-sin's words at the athletes' village and faced objections in Japan over it being a "political message."

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*This content was translated by AI.