Isn't that the hotel in Japan? Historical distortion by Japanese right-wing company, openly sponsoring East Asian Cup

[Financial News] APA Hotel, known to be operated by a right-wing CEO, is participating as an official sponsor of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup), causing controversy. It is deemed inappropriate for a company that consistently reveals right-wing tendencies to sponsor a tournament in which East Asian countries, the biggest victims of Japan's past, participate. 

Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University stated on the 18th on his social networking service (SNS) that "'APA Hotel' is participating as an official sponsor of the '2025 EAFF E-1 Championship' (East Asian Cup), causing controversy," and "as confirmed through reports from many netizens, 'APA Hotel' was openly exposed on billboards during the (Asian Cup) games."

Professor Seo explained, "The company denied and distorted the atrocities of the Japanese military's forced mobilization of comfort women and the Nanjing Massacre, placing right-wing books in hotel rooms and lobbies," adding that "Motoya Toshio, the CEO of APA Hotel, authored historical distortion books and was criticized for selling them on the website."

In fact, in 2017, a Chinese tourist traveling to Japan posted on SNS that books denying the existence of the Japanese military comfort women and the Nanjing Massacre, such as 'A Theory of the Nation No One Speaks Of' and 'Proud Motherland Japan, Proposal for Revival,' were placed in the drawers of the hotel room desk, sparking a boycott movement.

Professor Seo also emphasized that APA Hotel is "a right-wing company that must be boycotted," stating, "Many Asians, including Koreans and Chinese, have used it so far, but if they distort history in this way, a boycott is inevitable," continuously pointing out the issue.

Again, Professor Seo argued that "it's a clear mistake for a company like this to sponsor the East Asian Cup, in which East Asian countries such as Korea and China, who suffered the most from Japan in the past, participate," and "even if they sponsor a large amount, the organizers must accurately understand the company's information and sign contracts."

He also reiterated, "The East Asian Football Federation (EAFF), the organizer, should officially apologize to Asian football fans and ensure that such incidents do not recur." EAFF had been vacant since Kozo Tashima, the former president of the Japan Football Association, stepped down in March, and Chung Mong-gyu, the president of the Korea Football Association, was officially appointed as president on the 15th.





bng@fnnews.com Reporter Kim Hee-sun