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IZ*ONE fans slam Japanese host who hit Hitomi after Nako hints at being bullied

Japanese members Hitomi and Nako returned to their J-pop groups after IZ*ONE disbanded, while Sakura re-debuted with Le Sserafim

Fans are truly worried for the Japanese members of IZ*ONE after the K-pop group ended up disbanding in 2021. Since most of them had been part of J-pop groups before debuting in South Korea, they returned to their original groups. But it seems like the J-pop industry might not have been too welcoming. Fans were first stunned when there were rumors that Nako was allegedly being bullied by her J-pop group HKT48 Team H. And now fans are angry at Le Sserafim’s Kim Garam mocking Sakura’s alleged nose job, while Hitomi being hit by a Japanese host on TV has gone viral.

In December 2021, it was reported that Nako would be the center of her 13-member group. Despite the new position, she shared that she missed IZ*ONE. Her belongings were also found in the trash, while fans claimed they heard the members of HKT48 making fun of Nako’s Korean. There were also video clips of members making annoyed facial expressions while Nako was talking. Another post has now gone viral where member Hitomi was seen being hit by a Japanese host while she was trying to do her task.

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Hitomi's clip from 2016 goes viral

Korean fans were shocked when a Knetizen shared a 2016 clip where Hitomi had appeared on a Japanese variety show ‘AKBingo!’. After IZ*ONE disbanded, she went back to her J-pop group AKB48 where she is part of two sub-units. She too was the center for their March comeback. Well, in the clip that resurfaced, a host hit Hitomi on the head while admonishing her for not doing her task well as she was supposed to blow a conch. The host then asks, “Where are you blowing?,” while Hitomi staggers from being hit. While hitting the cast members is a gag code in Japanese variety shows, many were furious that the host actually hit Hitomi hard on the head.

With there being friction between J-pop and K-pop, fans are worried that Hitomi might face similar experiences to Nako after coming back from South Korea. Knetizens were confused as one asked, “Why is hitting someone's head considered funny? I don't get it.” Another said, “Seriously whenever I look at their variety shows, the standards are so low, it's just disgusting.” A fan who had watched the whole episode pointed out that Hitomi had been affected as she had later gone in the back, “If you look in the back later, Hitomi cries so the members hug her and that guy apologizes.” Another fan was upset, “I was really pissed off that Hitomi pretended to be bright until the end and eventually cried.”

'I hope his hand broke'

One fan tweeted, “God i wish i could jump through the screen and beat his a*s.” Another fan posted, “And if i do the same to that guy im gonna do it 10x harder.” A fan said, “DON'T TOUCH HITOMI!? and korean comedians aren't any better.” One commented, “I hope his hand broke after what he did to this poor girl..” Another wished, "Which is why I kind of see why Sakura was so adamant in leaving her center position and fame in AKB48 to come to Korea. Probably knew how she’d end up once she got older. Smart girl. Wished hitomi did the same but that’s her decision…."

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