"This is what invokes some people’s scars so it should be banned for use."
One week back, the Australian gold medal favourite Jack Robinson posted a photograph of his quiver of Arakawas for the Olympics, the four sleek rides each emblazoned with the Japanese Imperial flag aka the Rising Sun.
The Japanese Imperial Flag was proudly flown by the Japanese military during its failed attempt to own the Pacific and sits alongside other controversial flags such as the Soviet Hammer and Sickle, the Nazi Swastika and the US’s own Confederate Flag.
Jack Robinson, a kid from Margaret River, is unlikely to’ve been blessed with an interest or even schooling in mid-twentieth century history, and was merely paying tribute to his idol, the great Andy Irons, whose Rising Sun trunks kept Billabong staff in bonuses for half a decade in the early 2000s.
There was a little pushback on the post, not much, and I was surprised, therefore, when it was deleted.
Now, it can be revealed that it was a protest from Team South Korea that led to the bottom of Jackie’s boards being painted over in red, although you are still able to see the faint outline of the rays of the original design.
“I saw his post, thinking that board can’t be used because Olympics is a pure sports event,” South Korea’s team manager told Reuters. “Eventually the South Korean Olympic team visited Australian counterpart not to see that board during the Games.”
Team manager Song said although he was aware of its links to Andy Irons it’s important surfers got to know a little about the Rising Sun flag’s links to Japan’s dark history.
“I do want to tell people that even if this design is chosen out of personal views, it can be embarrassing. This isn’t about South Korea protesting but this is what invokes some people’s scars so it should be banned for use despite freedom of expression.”
Imperial Japan’s occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945 was marked by atrocities that left deep scars on the Korean people and their collective memory.
Rape, tortures, massacres, women and girls forced into sexual slavery, etc etc and etc.
Eighty years later and we’re all best pals, Jap Empire, the German Reich, which is great don’t you think?
