'This was intentional; it cannot be a mistake...' Japan's 'historic deluge of fury' after playing North Korea's anthem instead of South Korea's for the national team

*This content was translated by AI.

Even Japanese citizens are so ashamed they bow their heads. When a massive broadcast error occurred at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with North Korea's anthem playing instead of South Korea's national anthem in front of the Taegukgi for the South Korean national team, public opinion in Japan is pouring out fierce anger and self-mockery toward the host's unprecedented incompetence and rudeness.

The incident occurred on the 18th just before the first group stage match between South Korea and Bangladesh in Group A of the men's hockey tournament at Gifu Green Stadium in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. During the pre-match anthem ceremony, North Korea's anthem was played instead of South Korea's national anthem throughout the stadium.

According to 'AP News', South Korean players stood at attention or brushed their hair, unable to hide their bewilderment; some froze with their hands over their chests. The organizers only issued an apology broadcast after the song ended, played Bangladesh's anthem, and belatedly played South Korea's national anthem. However, citing the imminent start of the match, the referees instructed the players to shake hands before the national anthem had even finished, forcing the South Korean players to enter the game without hearing their anthem to the end. Despite this misfortune, South Korea decisively defeated Bangladesh 5-0.

When news of this spread, over 2,000 comments flooded Yahoo Japan's largest portal, with fierce condemnation rising against the organizers' casual management.

The netizens who received the most sympathy stated, "What on earth is Nagoya City doing? After receiving harsh criticism for accommodation and meal issues, they are now confused about player transportation and cannot even play the national anthem correctly. If they lack the funds and ability, they should not have bid to host the tournament," and "This is utterly terrible. How would you feel if another country's anthem played before a Japanese team match? This is not something that can be dismissed as 'a mistake'" while bowing their heads.

Especially, voices continued to criticize the decline in national trust by mentioning the sensitivity of inter-Korean relations. One netizen said, "They happened to confuse the anthems of the two most sensitive countries. It was a mistake so obvious that players would notice immediately, yet they only broadcast an apology after playing it all the way through; this is on the level of intent," and added, "From leaking container accommodations to insufficient preparation and chaotic management, everything stands out too clearly. This is an act that undermines Japan's standing."

Another netizen also remarked, "It is highly likely they accidentally clicked due to English labels appearing vertically in a PC file list, but the national flag and anthem are items that must never be mistaken in sports," and praised, "The South Korean players were greatly shaken before the match yet managed to maintain their focus and achieve a decisive 5-0 victory; they are truly remarkable."

In addition, Japanese netizens expressed strong voices of self-reflection, stating, "This is not a simple mistake but a symbolic event showing that Japan's ability to build systems and operational know-how has regressed," and "The organizing committee and local governments must formally apologize to participating countries and take responsibility."

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*This content was translated by AI.