[talk] A petition opposing the appearance of aespa's Ningning has been created in Japan.

A petition opposing the appearance of Chinese member Ningning of aespa has been created in Japan, and it is said that the number of participants has exceeded 50,000.

The controversy began with a photo of the lighting that Ningning posted on social media in 2022. While some pointed out that the lighting in the photo resembled a mushroom cloud after an atomic bomb detonation, the Japanese online shopping mall described the product as a "3D explosive interior lighting" and made no mention of the atomic bomb.

The petitioner cited the Kohaku Uta Gassen as an important official event for Japan, and argued that Japan's lack of historical awareness could affect its international image and harm victims of the Hiroshima atomic bomb.

Meanwhile, in China, the Sino-Japanese conflict is impacting various areas, including performances, film screenings, and seafood imports, with Japanese singer JO1's Guangzhou fan meeting being canceled. This petition is also expected to have some impact on aespa's activities amidst this situation.