"Aespa Appeared at 8:15 p.m.—An Insult to Japan?" NHK Responds as Conspiracy Theories Spread

[The Financial News] K-pop girl group Aespa appeared on the popular Japanese year-end music program NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, and unexpected suspicions spread online, prompting the broadcaster to issue an explanation.
On January 9, the Sankei Shimbun reported that a nuclear-bomb-related conspiracy theory had emerged over the fact that Aespa’s performance on Kouhaku Uta Gassen was aired at 8:15 p.m., and that Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) had denied the allegation, stating, "Claims spreading on social networking services (SNS) are baseless false information, and there was no such intention."
Aespa actually appeared on the "76th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen," which was broadcast on December 31 last year. Their segment aired at around 8:15 p.m.
After the broadcast, some local internet users argued that the timing was a deliberate reference to "8:15," the time of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, or to August 15, the National Liberation Day of Korea. They claimed, "It contains an intention to insult Japan," "It is hard to see this as a coincidence," and "NHK intentionally scheduled their appearance at that time."
One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on January 1, "The time of the Hiroshima atomic bombing was around 8:15:00 a.m., and the flash and explosion occurred around 8:15:43 a.m.," adding, "A review of the Kouhaku Uta Gassen replay shows that Aespa was on screen throughout that time slot."
Japanese internet users also pointed to the lyrics of "Whiplash," the song Aespa performed on stage. They claimed that phrases such as "big flash" and "blow" were suggestive of the flash from an atomic bomb.
Criticism had already surfaced as soon as news broke that Aespa would be appearing on Kouhaku Uta Gassen.

On Japanese social media, a lighting photo that Ningning, a Chinese member of the group, uploaded to a fan communication platform in 2022—said to resemble an "atomic bomb mushroom cloud"—was brought up again. An online petition campaign opposing Aespa’s appearance on Kouhaku Uta Gassen was also launched.
Two days before the program, SM Entertainment announced, "Ningning has contracted influenza (the flu) and, in accordance with her doctor’s advice, will not be attending the live recording."
In the actual broadcast, Ningning did not appear, and the stage was performed by the remaining three members—Karina, Giselle, and Winter.
The NHK Public Relations Department stated, "As the agency has already explained, Ningning’s absence was due to influenza," adding, "We will respond appropriately to the creation and spread of fake news."
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter