Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games face controversy over Toyotomi Hideyoshi photo zone

Controversy has resurfaced regarding the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games following the announcement of a cultural photo zone featuring Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The official cultural program website indicates that a ‘warrior role-play photo spot’ will be held at Mizuho Park in Nagoya, where visitors can pose behind large acrylic panels shaped like armor representing Sengoku-period figures, including Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Oda Nobunaga, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

This follows a previous incident on the 15th, where performers dressed as these historical figures appeared during a welcome ceremony for the athletes' village. While the Organizing Committee previously stated that the inclusion of these figures was intended to introduce local culture and tourism rather than to glorify specific historical figures, Professor Kyung-deok Seo of Sungshin Women's University has criticized these explanations as lacking sincerity.

Professor Seo argued that if there were a proper historical awareness, such figures would not be featured again. He further stated that Japan should not host international sporting events if it uses the Asian Games to glorify war criminals.