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.
本当にこれが、京都の観光の現状。悪質なのは舞妓や芸妓を発見する内容のツアーなどが売れてしまってるんだよね。彼女達は見ものじゃないよ。受け入れ側を考慮しない観光は本当に悪だ。 pic.twitter.com/69dItw4qOQ
— ニシムラタマキ@京都訪日観光 (@tamaki_nisimura) 21 June 2019
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.
おっしゃる通りですね、呼び込むだけ呼び込んでおいて「異文化理解ができていない」と憤っても改善されないですよね。
因みに３年ほど前から花見小路周辺にはこんな看板が設置されるようになりましたが…https://t.co/WIVWr6hPw5 からの抜粋です。 pic.twitter.com/HZznfXxA7k
— konitan (@konikoni_tantan) 22 June 2019
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
