Two tourists have come under fire for disrespecting Japanese culture by filming gymnastics moves at a sacred shrine in Hokkaido. The Chilean sisters shared a video on their Instagram account ‘mmgymsisters’, showing Maria del Mar Perez Banus doing pull-ups on the red bars of a torii gate in Sapporo, Hokkaido, accompanied by the music of the Cha Cha Slide. Another clip depicted one of the tourists, residing in the US, performing a handstand at the shrine entrance. Torii gates are traditionally found at the entrance or within a Shinto shrine to mark the transition to the sacred space.
The video, since deleted from the sisters’ Instagram account, garnered over 33.6 million views after being shared on X/Twitter. Criticism flooded in with over 3,000 comments calling the tourists “vulgar and uneducated”, “disrespectful”, and “attention-seeking”. In response, the former gymnasts posted an apology video to their 140,000 followers, expressing regret for their actions in Japan and asking to refrain from messages or comments.
Despite the apology, some locals appreciated Perez’s courage in apologising for the shrine stunt. A Japanese social media user acknowledged the importance of respecting Japanese culture and the rules, suggesting a visit to the shrine to offer an apology, considering the beliefs around the god of Inari Shrine. The Japanese Penal Code stipulates that desecrating a place of worship in public can lead to up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 100,000 yen (£514), though local reports indicate that Japanese police are not currently investigating the incident.
This incident is not an isolated one, as Japan has faced similar challenges with disrespectful tourists in the past. In July, the town of Fujikawaguchiko began constructing a large black screen on a sidewalk to obscure the view of Mount Fuji, following reports of tourists littering, disregarding traffic regulations, and trespassing on private properties.
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