Nuisance Influencers Abusing Japan’s Reputation For Safety And Hospitality

A rise in the outrageous behaviour of nuisance influencers in Japan has caused consternation in the country as tourism numbers near their pre-pandemic levels.

While the dual-edged sword of the tourism boom bodes well for the hospitality sector, it also brings with it the pressing issues of pollution and human traffic jams.

Overtourism is also known to have had a disruptive impact on the daily lives of local residents in certain regions, with issues like poor etiquettes by foreign tourists adding to the concerns.

YouTubers Evading Rail Staff And Blagging Free Food

A railway company in Japan is probing allegations that a group of four popular foreign YouTubers had travelled long distances by train without paying.

One of the suspects, known online as Fidias, posted a video to his 2.38 million subscribers over the weekend showing him and three others evading rail staff and blagging free food.

While the YouTuber’s followers applauded his audacity, the reaction from other netizens was overwhelmingly negative, with some accusing them of abusing Japan’s reputation.

Government Drawing Up Measures To Reduce Overtourism

“Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. I don’t want visitors to destroy the environment,” one social media user wrote.

The nuisance influencer later posted an apology on his channel, claiming he had failed to acquaint himself with Japanese norms before making the videos.

Overcrowding and bad behaviour have prompted the government to draw up measures to reduce overtourism, including steep rises in train fares.

Celebrity YouTuber Logan Paul Triggers Widespread Fury

While there are vast numbers of popular YouTube account exploring innumerable aspects of life in Japan, a few influencers have used their visits to gain online notoriety.

In 2017, celebrity YouTuber Logan Paul sparked outrage by posting a video showing the body of an apparent suicide victim in Japan, later issuing an apology.

The American was labelled “disrespectful” after he joked with his friends about discovering the body in Aokigahara forest, a notorious suicide spot at the base of Mount Fuji.