Wacko Shikoku 88 pilgrimage kerfuffle

[Taro Toporific]

Mulboyne (@Mulboyne)'s tweets:
Racism row breaks out on Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage route...A local group objects to Korean "non-worshippers" and has posted its own fliers asking people to rip down these route guides (which were prefecture-sponsored translations).

Racist notice(s) discovered on popular Shikoku walking trail
Japan Times / Apr. 9, 2014
TAKAMATSU, KAGAWA PREF. – A xenophobic notice calling for the exclusion of foreigners was discovered Wednesday on the route of a popular 88-temple walking course known as “Shikoku Henro” on the western island of Shikoku.
The signage, found glued at a rest station in the city of Yoshinogawa, Tokushima Prefecture, read, “Let us protect the pilgrimage course from the Koreans.”
"Recently, rude Koreans are sticking unpleasant stickers around Shikoku. To protect Japan’s henro routes, we shall peel them off once we find them," it said under the name of “Nihon no henro-michi o mamorou kai,” or the society to protect pilgrimage routes in Japan.
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racist-fuckwads.jpg

sankei.jp.msn.com

The weird part of all this is that some wacko local Shikoku group objects to Korean "non-worshippers", but a pale alien "non-worshipper" like me has walked short sections of 88-temple pilgrimage has received nothing but positive encouragement.
EVERY FUCKIN' SINGLE JAPANESE who saw me hiking in the white henro/pilgrim's jacket me would wildly smiled and say, "Ganbarimas" even though I was an obvious "non-worshipper."

I've considered wearing a white pilgrim's O-Henro jacket all the time in Shikoku because EVERYBODY offered me free beers, meal or "bed".

[yanpa]

The weird part of all this is that some wacko local Shikoku group objects to Korean "non-worshippers", but a pale alien "non-worshipper" like me has walked short sections of 88-temple pilgrimage has received nothing but positive encouragement.
EVERY FUCKIN' SINGLE JAPANESE who saw me hiking in the white henro/pilgrim's jacket me would wildly smiled and say, "Ganbarimas" even though I was an obvious "non-worshipper."

Well you weren't placing upleasant anti-Japanese, pro-American stickers all over the place were you?

[Coligny]

I've considered wearing a white pilgrim's O-Henro jacket all the time in Shikoku because EVERYBODY offered me free beers, meal or "bed".

Next time we follow you with a film crew... (in a van if you don't mind)

[kurogane]

More from one of the links Taro posted:

2014.4.9 11:10

Morning paper = the 9th that has been affixed to the resting place of the Shikoku Pilgrimage of Tokushima Yoshinogawa
Be printed, "Let's protect the hand of the Koreans an" important pilgrim road "" in the rest area of ​​Tokushima Prefecture Yoshinogawa pilgrims Shikoku Pilgrimage to use, paper sue foreign exclusion has been affixed the 9th, I found. Poster is described in "recently, the Korean people that rudeness will have around onto the Shikoku during the seal bad feeling. Order to protect the pilgrimage road" and "Japan, on sight, let's peel" also. There was a name of "the meeting to protect the pilgrimage road of Japan".

Soshikisuru Shikoku eighty-eight places hallowed ground Association said, "discrimination is not allowed. If you put as In addition, you want to put a stop" in the temple of pilgrimage. December last year, the Board authorized hallowed ground Zoki Choi's Korean (38) became the first foreign woman to convey the charm of the pilgrimage to the "predecessors". I found that the alien is getting lost, we have activities that put a sticker indicating the directions and illustrations arrow does held, poster and was slandering such acts.

Choi achieved four times all pilgrimage places from 2010. Launched the Korean social networking site for "impression of Japan may change if the pilgrimage," said you are also providing information such as accommodation.
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I find that almost hard to believe. If I knew what they were saying it might help.


Still, typically redneck a response as it is, it's pretty sadly Korean to go around slapping up stickers without getting permission or at least consultation.

I say 5 minutes in the box to both sides for looking so bad.

[Russell]

The message is believed to be referring to a campaign initiated by Choi Sang-hee, a 38-year-old South Korean who qualified as registered Shikoku Henro guide last December. As the first non-Japanese woman to take on the role, she has been involved in a campaign to mark the route with illustrated stickers, ostensibly to prevent foreign pilgrims getting lost.

Choi is also promoting the pilgrimage in South Korea through her website, believing that the experience may lead South Koreans to change their impressions of Japan and transform relations between the two countries.

“I have been doing this for pilgrims and did not expect to be blamed,” said Choi, adding that she had been saddened by the incident.

I get the impression that the Koreans are well-intended in this case, so I would rather blame the J-racists.

[Taro Toporific]

I get the impression that the Koreans are well-intended in this case, so I would rather blame the J-racists.

I would agree. Several times I lost the trail just trekking (on crutches!) a short 50km segment of the Pilgrimage and I was tempted to go back to post an English sign warning folks about the correct/direct route for persons on foot.

[Mock Cockpit]

Getting lost is part of doing the 88 temples I always thought. FGs doing the 88 temples are the worst though, can't even look at them for fear of fucking up their intense "my Japan" vibe. No matter how far off course they are they won't ask for help.