Japanese Response To “KPop Demon Hunters” Triggers Intense Reactions

Recently, an online community post garnered much attention for Japan’s reaction to Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The Japanese media outlet reported that a former SM Entertainment trainee composed and sang the song “Golden” for the series.

While this was a great accomplishment, reactions were divided among Japanese netizens.

• “I don’t like the drawing style. I feel like they were being conscious of Pixar.”
• “The combination of an easy animation and K-Pop, the subject of envy, has succeeded in getting the young people’s attention.”
• “Then make a movie version and air it worldwide! I’m sure you’ll get great numbers then!”
• “I don’t see what’s so great about it at all. Animation with Japanese culture is the best.”
• “Did you all really watch the series?”
• “I listened to the songs and they sounded great to me.”
• “The person who sang it also composed it? I didn’t know that. Congrats on first place! The song is great. It’s also fun to see the different covers of the song online.”
• “I’m shocked at the ranking for an animation song.”
• “This is something Japan can do too if they put their mind to it.”

Seeing this, K-netizens felt their response wasn’t worth responding back to.

• “If you’re jealous, then why don’t you put your mind to it and make your own?”
• “They’re scratched about this…”
• “There’s no change in Japanese response. No matter what they say, I don’t think they are our competition anymore.”
• “Jealous, much?”
• “But honestly, seeing that we don’t care about their response…doesn’t that mean they aren’t on our level for competition anymore…”