Chinese Fans Criticise Brighton After Kaoru Mitoma Appears With Image of Imperial Japan Soldier
Chinese football fans have strongly criticised English Premier League club Brighton and Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma after a social media post showed the player smiling while holding an image linked to Japan’s wartime past. The photo, shared by Brighton’s academy, featured Mitoma standing alongside a young player while holding a mock-up football card displaying Imperial Japanese Army officer Hiroo Onoda, known as the last Japanese soldier to surrender after the Second World War.
The reaction in China was immediate and intense. Many online users expressed anger, noting that the image referenced an extremely sensitive chapter in Asian history. Millions of Chinese civilians and soldiers died during the conflict with Imperial Japanese forces, and memories of the suffering inflicted through massacres, forced labour, torture, and widespread destruction remain deeply painful to this day. Historical tensions between Beijing and Tokyo continue to influence public opinion, making symbols related to the former Imperial Army particularly inflammatory for Chinese audiences.
Mitoma, who has built a strong following in Asia for his performances in the Premier League, became the focus of criticism on Chinese social media platforms. Online comments questioned how the image came to be used and why neither the player nor the club had recognised its potential to offend. Some users said they were disappointed that a celebrated footballer from Japan had posed with an image associated with wartime aggression, while others argued that the incident showed a lack of cultural sensitivity from the club.
In response to the backlash, Brighton’s academy issued a public apology on Saturday. The club acknowledged that the image was inappropriate and said it regretted any offence caused. The academy also stated that the post was removed once concerns were raised. Although the apology helped calm some reactions, many users continued to discuss the wider significance of the controversy, pointing out how football remains a global platform where gestures and images can carry meanings far beyond sport.
The club has not clarified whether Mitoma was aware of the historical context of the image at the time the photo was taken. Supporters familiar with his career said he is generally known for his professionalism and reserved personality, and some suggested the situation may have been the result of oversight rather than intention. Still, commentators noted that in an international league such as the Premier League, where players interact with fans from many different cultural backgrounds, extra caution is necessary.
The incident has also reopened conversations about how sports organisations handle historically sensitive symbols and artwork. Analysts observed that clubs operating in global markets need to ensure that promotional materials, fan interactions and social media activities undergo careful review, especially in regions where history continues to shape sentiment.
For Brighton, the controversy serves as a reminder of the complexities of international engagement. For Chinese fans, the episode highlights how unresolved historical wounds remain easily opened by imagery connected to past conflicts.
