"Truly a foolish act"... Japanese fans pull out 'Rising Sun Flag' on the street after being stopped at the stadium [2026 FIFA World Cup]

[Financial News] Japanese soccer fans have sparked controversy after pulling out the Rising Sun Flag during cheering for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and taking it to the streets. In response, Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, criticized the act as "truly a foolish act."
On the 15th (Korean time), Japan drew 2-2 with powerhouse Netherlands after a hard-fought match in the opening game of Group F at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held at Dallas Stadium in Texas.
Afterward, Japanese fans took to the streets to celebrate, but some of them drew criticism after displaying the Rising Sun Flag.
The Rising Sun Flag is a banner that Japan used at the front lines of its invasions of Asian countries, including during the Pacific War, and it symbolizes militarism and imperialism.
In a post on his Social Network Service (SNS) account on the 16th, Seo pointed out that using the Rising Sun Flag as a World Cup cheering prop is "a truly wrong act."
Seo explained, "During the last 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, security personnel immediately stepped in and stopped Japanese supporters when they waved the Rising Sun Flag inside the stadium." He added, "That was highly significant because FIFA had officially blocked cheering with the Rising Sun Flag."
He continued, "Now that cheering with the Rising Sun Flag is banned inside World Cup stadiums, they started using it again in street cheering." He criticized the move as "truly a foolish act."
He also said, "Before this World Cup began, a World Cup-related video made by a YouTuber active in Mexico caused major controversy because it included cheering with the Rising Sun Flag." He added, "I raised the issue publicly, and afterward the YouTuber apologized and blurred the scenes showing the Rising Sun Flag so they could no longer be seen."
He urged people to join the effort, saying, "Through continued public discussion in the international community, I will work to eliminate the Rising Sun Flag, which is being misused in Japan and many other places around the world. I ask all of you to join this effort as well."
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Su-yeon Reporter