Brighton issues apology over controversial post
Brighton have issued a formal apology after a post from the club’s academy on social media featured an image of Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese Second World War soldier whose legacy remains deeply contentious, particularly in China, reports BritPanorama.
The since-deleted message on X showed Japan international Kaoru Mitoma with an academy player, both holding a football card depicting Onoda. Intended to promote their Under-12s’ involvement in the Premier League Christmas Truce Tournament, the post inadvertently triggered a wave of criticism as it went viral on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
Onoda, an intelligence officer in the Imperial Japanese Army, became notorious for refusing to surrender after the Second World War ended, holding out in the Philippine jungle on Lubang Island until 1974. His belief that Japan’s capitulation announcements were enemy deceit led him to remain armed for nearly three decades, during which time he killed 30 local civilians whom he mistakenly believed to be combatants.
Though later pardoned by the Philippine government, Onoda’s actions and Japan’s wider wartime record in China have rendered him an inflammatory figure. The inclusion of his image in a promotional context therefore drew immediate anger from fans in China, where the memory of Imperial Japan’s military campaigns remains a sensitive issue.
In a statement following the removal of the post, Brighton said: “The club sincerely apologises for any offence caused in China by a recent post about our Academy’s participation in the Premier League Christmas Truce Tournament. We hugely value our fans in China and had no intention of causing any offence.”
Sources indicated that the post resulted from a “genuine error” within the academy setup, with officials reportedly unaware of the historical and geopolitical sensitivities surrounding Onoda. Their apology highlights the club’s attempt to navigate the backlash.
The card’s production process remains unclear, but the original post was meant to highlight Brighton’s Under-12 side, who qualified for the Christmas Truce Cup in Belgium after winning the Premier League Education Project. This tournament, named after the 1914 ceasefires on the Western Front, aims to blend competition with historical education.
However, Onoda’s history sharply contrasts with this constructive intention. Serving in the Japanese army from 1942, he was officially declared dead in 1959 before emerging in 1974, when a former commanding officer was sent to order him to surrender. His return to Japan briefly made him a symbol of wartime loyalty, yet abroad, especially in nations affected by Japan’s militarism, his legacy is associated with violence and historical denial.
Onoda died in Tokyo in January 2014, aged 91. Brighton are now seeking to limit the diplomatic fallout from what they recognize as a significant oversight, aiming to reassure supporters in China that no disrespect was intended.
This incident serves as a reminder of how sporting promotion and historical narratives can collide, stirring deep-rooted sentiments on both sides of the globe.
