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

 

It is obvious that the environment surrounding the program has drastically changed over the past 40 years, and Wada herself is aware that things are not as they once were. However, “She is very much in high spirits and has no intention of retiring, let alone stopping live broadcasts” (program staff)

Considering that Wada’s talent agency, Horipro, is involved in the show’s production, it would not be easy to switch to pre-recorded broadcasts. However, without any measures, there is a high risk of another “slip-up” causing a major backlash.

“Indeed, Akiko Wada genuinely views ‘sea lions’ as cute animals. She likely did not think that comparing someone to a sea lion could be seen as derogatory. There are posts on social media saying ‘It would have been better if it were a seal or a sea lion,’ but perceptions vary from person to person.

In this case, people who view sea lions as symbols of ‘ugly creatures’ overreacted and caused the uproar. If someone had been there to explain that ‘sea lion’ is not used positively in general society, this commotion might not have happened” (Entertainment journalist Hiroyuki Sasaki).

Thus, the aforementioned script writer suggests the following plan.

“The problem is that the other participants on the show are all celebrities who can’t speak up to Wada. If someone had said, ‘Comparing her to a sea lion is inappropriate!’ and turned it into a joke, and if Wada had apologized, this situation might not have escalated. Therefore, there are voices within the network suggesting that it might be a good idea to include knowledgeable experts such as critics, lawyers, and scholars who are not influenced by Wada in the show’s lineup.”

Is it a case of an “expert commentator” giving opinions to another “expert commentator”?

Perhaps it would be worth considering gathering expert commentators and turning the show into ‘Akko’s Current Affairs Talk’.