Controversy Erupts Over 'Physical: 100 Asia' as Yushin Okami Issues Apology

The Netflix reality competition 'Physical: 100 Asia' has landed in hot water immediately after its finale due to fairness controversies.

Japan's representative and former UFC fighter Yushin Okami initially claimed the show was "biased," but issued a swift apology the very next day, stating he was "sorry for causing misunderstanding."

The situation escalated further when it was revealed that the controversial post was not originally written by him but by a fan.

Okami shared his thoughts on the show via his social media after its conclusion. He stated, "Japan was, overall, the best and top team," but added, "From the beginning, it was clear the program was biased. There are many shortcomings here, but above all, this program should have been produced by countries not belonging to Asia, especially competing nations."

Following the post's publication, online discussions erupted, with comments like "Is this a blatant attack on a national competition variety show?" and "It seems like they're shifting blame for the Japanese team's 3rd place finish onto bias allegations."

Sensing the growing controversy, Okami attempted to de-escalate the situation within a day. He posted again, clarifying, "I want to clarify my previous post. I caused confusion because I didn't fully understand the hidden meaning." He continued, "'Physical: 100 Asia' was a truly amazing competition, and I was honored to compete with incredible athletes. I sincerely apologize if my post caused any misunderstanding."

It was later revealed that the key controversial statement was a repost of a fan's comment. However, since reposting through his own account shared the sentiment with a global audience, accusations that he agreed with the "biased program" perspective have been difficult to quell.

Alongside his apology, Okami sought to shift the narrative by emphasizing his long-standing friendship with Kim Dong-hyun. He reposted a photo with the caption "Longtime friend, forever friend" and added, "Congratulations, my friend! Please come back to Japan." He also shared an older photo from 2009, writing, "The oldest photo with Dong-hyun. My friend, please come back to Japan anytime. I'll be waiting."

'Physical: 100 Asia' garnered significant attention for its first-ever national team format, featuring participants from 8 countries including Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Turkey, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines. However, the Japanese team had already faced some friction due to equipment issues during a retake in the 'Quest 3: Pole Stamina' challenge and ultimately finished in 3rd place.

Led by Okami, the Japanese team reached the TOP3 alongside South Korea and Mongolia but failed to pass the fifth quest, 'Fortress Siege.' In the final mission, where the gate had to be closed using ropes, they lost significant time and couldn't complete the task within the one-hour limit, ultimately ceding the victory to Korea and Mongolia. Coupled with the earlier retake controversy, the spread of the biased production statement through his account led to interpretations that it stemmed from dissatisfaction with the competition's outcome.

Ultimately, this controversy has once again highlighted the sensitive aspects of global platform reality shows. Even after the intense competition concluded, with the victorious Korean team, the closely contested Mongolian team, and the Japanese team eliminated at the final hurdle, 'Physical: 100 Asia' remains a hot topic of debate online.

Netizens are actively discussing the controversy, with comments like "I suspected something was off from the start," "Is this a refusal to accept the results?", and "It feels like they're trying to cover it up by showing their friendship with Kim Dong-hyun."