Controversy has erupted over the use of a real elementary school name on the popular Japanese variety show "Water Wednesday Downtown," aired by TBS. The February 19 episode featured comedian Hyoroku, probing his character through theatrically staged scenarios involving bullying. Following the broadcast, complaints flooded from the actual school featured, leading TBS to issue multiple apologies.
On February 25, the show’s official account acknowledged the backlash, stating, "We deeply apologize for causing discomfort among the students, parents, teachers, and other related parties of the real elementary school as the broadcast contained fictitious settings, not related to any actual school or children." This statement was triggered by concerns raised by the school community who indicated the content blurred the lines between reality and fiction.
The segment, which revolved around Hyoroku's "humanity check," included fictitious storylines involving his brother and secret children. Observing scripts where the secret child discovers bullying messages scrawled on textbooks led to uncomfortable moments highlighting issues of real-world bullying. The public's reaction was swift and often negative, pointing out the risk of fostering misunderstandings among viewers.
TBS’s president introduced these issues during their February 26 press conference, apologizing for the careless use of the school's name after realizing its existence during the editing phase. "Due to the nature of the prank show, we lacked sufficient awareness of the risks associated with mentioning a real school," said executive Gota Takanobu, reflecting on executive oversights during production.
Concerned reactions from audiences also surfaced on social media platforms where viewers were torn about whether the episode would lead to more severe ramifications, such as potential cancellation of the intended sequel to Hyoroku's storyline. Calls expressed hope for the continuation of the planned episodes, demonstrating the show's mixed reception amid growing concerns about the sensitive treatment of themes involving bullying.
This incident brings to light significant concerns over the representation of real issues within entertainment mediums and the impact such portrayals hold on youth. TBS has committed to addressing these challenges and ensuring greater care is taken to avoid similar controversies, confirming their aim is to balance entertainment with social responsibility.
The broadcasting network appears determined to learn from this incident, promising to implement stricter guidelines about content creation involving sensitive topics. The hope remains for the show's return, albeit with renewed attention to its potential societal impact.