An Australian tourist who drank an offering and behaved inappropriately at a Japanese cemetery sparked an online backlash.
Jones, an Australian tourist, posted a video on social media showing himself drinking a can of soda—an offering placed on a tombstone by Japanese people to honor their ancestors. In the video, Jones flipped a coin to decide whether to open the can. After drinking it, he also burped in front of the tombstone.
The video, posted last month, quickly drew sharp criticism. “A cemetery is a sacred place in any country. I want the authorities to ensure he is never allowed back in Japan,” one person commented.
On September 3, the Australian Embassy in Japan posted a social media announcement, warning citizens to “behave appropriately” while traveling, without directly referencing the incident.
The embassy stated it works closely with Japanese authorities to ensure Australian tourists comply with local laws and regulations. Jones later posted a video apologizing on social media.
This is not the first time a foreign tourist has sought online fame through offensive behavior in Japan. A month earlier, Japanese police arrested Ismael Ramsey Khalid, a 23-year-old American citizen known as “Johnny Somali,” for allegedly trespassing on a construction site. In the video, Khalid, wearing a mask, repeatedly yelled “Fukushima,” referencing the nuclear disaster, when workers asked him to leave. In another video, Khalid harassed passengers on a train with comments related to the 1945 US atomic bombings of Japan.
In 2023, YouTuber Fidias, who had 2.4 million followers, posted a video of himself and his friends riding trains across Japan without paying the fare.
With a record number of international visitors to Japan, many locals have expressed frustration over the inconsiderate behavior of some tourists. Last year, authorities in a town near Mount Fuji erected a large barrier at a popular photo spot near a convenience store to prevent tourists from crowding into the street for photos. Meanwhile, Kyoto’s historic Gion district has also taken action to prevent tourists from taking photos of geisha in restricted areas. Japan has long issued behavioral guidelines and warned international tourists about rude behavior.
In Jeju Island, South Korea, authorities recently issued a multilingual guide to inform international visitors about local regulations and culture, including penalties for smoking in prohibited areas, jaywalking, littering, or damaging the environment. Administrative fines can be as high as 50,000 won (about US$37). The guide emphasizes that such violations can lead to imprisonment for misdemeanors or administrative fines.
According to SCMP
