Can This Love Be Translated? Faces Strong Backlash Over Second Male Lead
Sota Fukushi is facing controversy over his casting in Netflix’s new drama Can This Love Be Translated?
The backlash started after Korean viewers dug up Fukushi’s 2015 appearance in the Japanese documentary Please Teach Us About The War. In it, he interviewed a surviving Kamikaze pilot and read farewell letters from Japan’s special attack forces during WWII.
Sota also shared a personal story, revealing his grandfather trained to be a Kamikaze pilot. He got emotional and said he “respected” his grandfather, adding,
“because of them, we are here today.”
Japanese fans praised his emotional tribute, but South Korean viewers reacted very differently.
In Korea, Kamikaze pilots are seen as symbols of Japan’s wartime aggression, not tragic heroes. Many Koreans accused Sota of romanticizing Japan’s military past, calling him “right-wing” and a Japanese nationalist.
A recent post on theqoo summed up Korean netizens’ disappointment, blaming Fukushi for the lukewarm response to the drama:
“Right-wingers, barf.”
“A writer who plagiarizes, a male lead who forced an abortion, and a right-wing second male lead. LOL.”
“Apart from Go Youn Jung, there’s really no reason to watch this.”
The controversy has added tension to Can This Love Be Translated? just as it is set to launch globally on Netflix.
Fans and viewers are watching closely to see if this backlash will affect the drama’s success.
