Netizens angry at Japanese network for ridiculing fighter on TV

○ Ridiculing invited Korean mixed martial artist

Japan’s TBS TV broadcast on July 3 “Flames Sports Competition,” a variety show in which female athletes and male entertainers engage in matches in various sports.

Lim Su-jeong, 27, a Korean female mixed martial artist nicknamed “beautiful fighter" in Korea, was set to face in a match three Japanese comedians: Toshiaki Kasuga, 31, Hiroshi Shinagawa, 39, and Koji Imada, 45.

In the three-minute, three-round match, the three comedians fought Lim one by one in turn. Because Lim is a professional fighter despite being female, she was asked to wear just gloves in the match without other protective gear. The comedians wore head gear and knee protectors when fighting Lim, however.

The situation took an unexpected turn from the very beginning, however. Though they were supposedly comedians, they performed kicks as skillfully as pros. Lim was pushed up by a single kick by Kasuga, who was the first to face her, and fell to the ring’s floor.

Watching the match, even a commentator expressed alarm by saying, “This isn`t really a variety show.”

Kasuga mercilessly attacked Lim, punching and kicking her with brutal knee kicks. Hit with a turning kick by Imada, who served as the chief of the team, Lim was hoisted and fell to the floor again.

She grew depleted and reportedly suffered injury requiring eight weeks of treatment. The match was ruled a draw by referees, which looked rather awkward.

○ Comedians with athletic skills to boot

The comedic trio is fairly well known in Japan. Imada and Shinagawa are relatively popular comedians managed by Yoshimoto Entertainment, Japan’s largest comedian management agency. Through professional comedians, they are also quite skilled in mixed martial arts.

Imada’s profile posted on Yoshimoto’s website suggests martial art as his specialty. Subtitles on TBS TV also suggested that he has eight years of experience in the sport. Shinagawa was introduced as having three years of experience in mixed martial arts.

Kasuga played rugby in college and is semi-pro martial artist who once fought in Japan’s K-1, a mixed martial arts championship, in 2007.

○ Conflicting claims

When controversy erupted over the show, TBS in an official announcement said, “The match was convened not as a mockup based on a script, but a real match. Rules were debriefed in advance and Lim also consented.”

“The match was conducted under the supervision of a professional referee and medics were on standby in the studio. We understand that after the filming, Lim’s condition was generally OK and she expressed the intent to do it again.”

TBS basically claimed no problem since it informed her of the match rules prior to the event. Perhaps for this reason, the network stopped short of making an apology or expressing regret.

In an interview with a Korean broadcaster, however, Lim’s side said she was told before filming that it would be a variety show after all. Since the match was conducted under prior mutual consent, her side said, she had nothing much to worry about.

Lim shunned comment, merely saying, “I have nothing to say. I don’t want to say anything.” She expressed her feeling with the posting “It`s OK” on the front page of her blog.

wing@donga.com changkim@donga.com