Influencer used Japan’s sacred symbol to exercise: “Never come back,” they told him

A recent controversy has arisen in Japan after a viral video of the Chilean influencer, known as Marimar Pérez, who was criticized for using a torii, a sacred symbol of Japanese culture, to perform exercises. The video, posted on his Instagram account and later deleted, has caused outrage both in Japan and on social media.

Who is Marimar Pérez?

Marimar Pérez is a former Chilean gymnast and currently an influencer on social networks, where she shares exercise videos. Known for her Instagram account, @mmgymsisters, the young woman has gained popularity by showing her training routine, but on this occasion, one of his videos generated a strong negative reaction.

What is a torii?

A torii is a traditional Japanese structure often found at the entrance to Shinto shrines. represents the border between the earthly world and the spiritual world, and has a deep religious and cultural value. In the video that provoked criticism, Pérez hung from the torii and performed exercises to the rhythm of the song “Cha Cha Slide”, which was considered disrespectful by many Japanese users.

The reaction on networks was quick and forceful. “Another foreign influencer is going viral in Japan for her rude behavior,” wrote one user on platform X. Other comments expressed outrage at the lack of respect for Japanese culture and They asked that the behavior of foreign tourists be controlled.

Marimar’s apologies

Faced with a wave of criticism, Marimar posted a video apologizing for his action. “I want to apologize a thousand times,” said the influencer. “I wasn’t thinking about what I was doing. I didn’t mean to offend anyone.” However, the damage had already been done and the video has generated a debate about the responsibility of influencers when visiting places of high cultural value.

In addition to this incident, Japan has been the scene of other similar controversies related to the behavior of tourists and influencers. who do not respect the cultural norms of the country.

In 2019, a headline-making case involved a group of tourists damaging cherry blossom trees during the hanami season.a highly valued event in Japan. These actions have led to a growing debate about the need to educate travelers about traditions and respect for sacred spaces, especially in an era of social media where actions can always have a global impact and cause this type of damage.