Sympathy Grows for Akiko Wada Amid Online Criticism and Network Calls for Recording

Controversies involving celebrities and famous people continue. Akiko Wada’s “sea lion” comment is one such issue.

Wada, 74, made a remark on her show ‘Akko ni Omakase!’ (TBS) about Haruka Kitaguchi, 26, who won a gold medal in women’s javelin at the Paris Olympics. She commented on Kitaguchi eating cake while lying down:

“She looks like a sea lion, lying down. How cute.”

The comment received widespread criticism on social media and caused a major backlash. In response, Wada apologized at the beginning of the show broadcast on August 18. However, her visibly exhausted appearance prompted sympathetic comments such as “She seems so pitiful,” “It feels like bullying an elderly person,” and “Seeing her like this makes it feel like Wada is being defamed.”

Seeing the dire situation, voices within TBS are expressing concerns about the continuation of live broadcasts, such as “It seems that live broadcasting has reached its limit,” and “Given Wada’s age, long hours of live broadcasting are likely unfeasible. It would be too late to address major troubles once they arise.”

“The show started in 1985. At that time, Akiko Wada was 35 and known as “God Aunt” with a sharp wit and dynamic presence. The decision then was that Wada’s sharp-tongued talk was best suited to live broadcasts. Being a news program, it required the immediacy of live updates, and the scripts were kept very simple. Most of the talk was unscripted, including Wada’s, so the “happenings” and “accidents” during broadcasts were entertaining, and viewers had the patience to enjoy them.

Inappropriate remarks during the show were not uncommon. However, unlike back then when the internet didn’t exist and fewer people were concerned, what was once overlooked is no longer ignored. There is concern that the show could face a situation leading to its cancellation. Thus, opinions are emerging that it would be better to switch to pre-recorded broadcasts.”