Tanaka Koki, member of the popular Johnny's idol group, KAT-TUN, has been stirring up some controvery recently as his new PV "Black or White" was leaked on to the internet. So what's the big deal? Some netizens are upset that Koki is dressed in full, Nazi uniform. The full PV can be viewed here.
To be specific, Koki sports the notorious SS black uniform, which was used from 1932 to 1934 in Nazi Germany. The SS uniform was worn specifically by people who worked in concentration camps and closest to the Third Reich. The PV features him dancing in the Nazi garb, while switching between scenes of him being experimented on. The SS was also notorious for conducting horrendous "medical experiments" on many Jews in concentration camps.
Koki's uniform shows off several Nazi era paraphernalia, including:
The Third Reich Eagle Emblem
The Third Reich government adopted the eagle as a national symbol (Hoheitszeichen), in common with previous German governments and several other European countries. Originally, the design was to show the eagle's head facing to its right when used as a national symbol, and to its left when used as a Nazi Party symbol, but this convention was not always followed. The eagle's claws were to grasp a wreath of oak leaves surrounding a swastika.
The Iron Cross
The Iron Cross was used as the symbol of the German Army from 1871 to March/April 1918, when it was replaced by a simpler Greek cross. In 1956, the Iron Cross resumed its German military usage, as it became the symbol of the Bundeswehr, the modern German armed forces.
However, the Nazi swastika band cannot be seen on his arm.
Many netizens have voiced their concerns over the PV, including:
"That PV is disgusting, not only the SS uniform but also the experiment bits...Japanese groups have been called out for this shit before, he must've known. This is a disgusting grab for attention and it will work,"
"lol i don't get why you are all reacting so badly. okay well i do, but it's been done before and it shouldn't be a huge deal anymore. vk bands have dressed up with the actual nazi-swastika attached to their costume. for years and years and years."
It is widely known that the Japanese were allied with Germany during World War 2. However, many Japanese are still uneducated on the full extent of the atrocities done by the Axis Powers during the war.
Sources: 1, 2
