Foreign Tourists Caught on Video Chasing and Harassing a Geisha for Pictures in Japan
By Bryan Ke
Netizens are outraged after a video showing foreign tourists chasing after a maiko and geisha on the streets of Kyoto went viral online.
The clip, which was ripped from a TV report show in Japan, was posted online by @tamaki_nisimura, who works in the tourism sector in the country, according to SoraNews24.
In the post above, the TV report shows desperate foreigners running after a maiko as they take pictures of her without asking for permission. And to add to the chaos, the crowds were clearly disturbing traffic by blocking the street.
While comments from the TV presenters explain how these tourists keep running into the traffic just to take pictures of the maiko, the Twitter user, on the other hand, blames organized tours that usually promote “geisha spotting” as part of the activity.
The Twitter user also expressed that there should be more education teaching tourists about the issue, but other social media users pointed out that there were already signs for that in Kyoto reminding tourists to watch their manners when interacting with the locals.
After the video report went viral on Twitter, some users couldn’t help but express what they were feeling. Here’s what some of them wrote as translated by SoraNews24:
“They should have something about the rules and correct etiquette on the plane to Japan so that people know what to do when they enter the country.”
“This is the government’s problem. They need to put countermeasures in place to prevent this sort of thing from happening.”
“If Kyoto wants to promote its image as a city with maiko and geisha, they should do something to protect them.”
“Even if you ask overseas travellers to watch their manners they won’t care. All they care about is getting a photo for social media.”
“If tourists want to see a maiko so badly, they should make a reservation and pay for it.”
“These women aren’t objects or sightseeing spectacles to be gawked at.”
“Maiko are usually minors so you have to be especially considerate of them.”
Featured image screenshot via Twitter / tamaki_nisimura
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