New BBC documentary Japan with Sue Perkins has left telly fans sorely divided, with some hailing the first episode a “brilliant” success and others branding it “disrespectful”.
The first installment of the two-part show, which aired last night (18.09.19), saw comedian and presenter Sue Perkins travel to Japan to explore the culture and meet locals to hear about their way of life.
Read more: Sue Perkins hits out at Coronation Street for killing off lesbian characters
She started out in the capital Tokyo, where she tried her hand at sumo wrestling and visited a family that lives with robots.
Elsewhere in the programme, she attended a photo shoot for a fake ‘solo’ wedding that saw a young woman don a wedding dress and pose for pictures without a groom.
She also attended a girl band gig where the crowd was mostly made up of middle-aged men.
On Twitter, viewers appeared to be sorely divided over the programme and its representation of a country as far removed from Britain culturally as it is geographically.
One viewer tweeted: “Massively disappointed. So fascinated that she takes the piss of the people she’s interacting with throughout. Not really an attempt at understanding a culture, just an opportunity to mock. Shame Sue, you can do better #JapanwithSuePerkins.”
Another wrote: “I’d have thought the point of #JapanwithSuePerkins would be to learn about the culture and context of their unique eccentricity rather than mocking it.”
Someone else said: “Let me tell you something @BBC #JapanwithSuePerkins is appalling! You have exploited Japan and its people and really misunderstood it… on national television. You portrayed Japan in a way that suited you to get views and disrespected my culture.”
“Probably the best misrepresentation of Japan I’ve seen a while,” tweeted another.
ED! has contacted the BBC for comment.
Massively disappointed. So fascinated that she takes the piss of the people she’s interacting with throughout. Not really an attempt at understanding a culture just an opportunity to mock. Shame Sue, you can do better #JapanwithSuePerkins
— Scout Finch (@ScoutlovesBoo) September 18, 2019
I’d have thought the point of #JapanwithSuePerkins would be to learn about the culture and context of their unique eccentricity rather than mocking it.
— ælicia quills (@AliciaHills) September 18, 2019
Let me tell you something @BBC #JapanwithSuePerkins is appalling! You have exploited Japan and it’s people and really misunderstood it.. on National television. You portrayed Japan in a way that suited you to get views and disrespected my culture.
— Jasmine Elliott (@jasmineelliott_) September 18, 2019
Probably the best misrepresentation of Japan I've seen a while #JapanwithSuePerkins
— Aaron Nathaniel (@AaronNathaniel5) September 18, 2019
Read more: Sue Perkins pays heartbreaking tribute as beloved dog Parker dies
But not everyone was turned off, with some praising Sue’s “brilliant” presenting style and others admitting the show made them “laugh out loud”.
One fan wrote: “Really Really enjoyed #JapanwithSuePerkins. I thought Sue perfectly captured the culture shock you feel as a westerner when you first arrive in Japan. Truly an amazing place.”
A second put: “#JapanwithSuePerkins. Love Sue! Brilliant presenter. Natural and funny too! Want to go straight to Japan!”
“#JapanwithSuePerkins @sueperkins, just watching last night’s episode, absolutely brilliant,” tweeted a third, adding: “Getting odd looks on my morning commute whilst I laugh out loud. Well done, as always tackling every subject with an open mind and a great sense of fun.”
Really Really enjoyed #JapanwithSuePerkins
I thought Sue perfectly captured the culture shock you feel as a westerner when you first arrive in Japan. Truly an amazing place
— TheCheekyScamp Ⓥ (@thecheekyscamp) September 18, 2019
#JapanwithSuePerkins. Love Sue! Brilliant presenter. Natural and funny too! Want to go straight to Japan!
— Lynn (@LynnADaly) September 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/jomariamerritt/status/1174570714864730113
– Japan with Sue Perkins continues on Wednesday (25.09.19) at 9pm on BBC One
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