Japanese Travel YouTuber Ikechan Faces Backlash Over Air India Comment
Japanese content creator Ikechan has ignited a major controversy with a social media post about her flight to India. The popular YouTuber posted a comment on X that quickly drew widespread criticism from users across platforms.
The Controversial Post
In her now-contentious post, Ikechan wrote about taking Air India for her first-ever trip to the country. She described the airline as "notoriously bad" and noted that "the plane is packed with Indians." The caption accompanied her travel announcement as she embarked on her inaugural Indian journey.
The remark immediately triggered strong reactions from social media users. Many found the comment offensive and racially insensitive. One user responded directly, writing "Air India is packed with Indians never expected this level of racism from a Japanese." Others accused the content creator of deliberately trying to defame India through her remarks.
Immediate Fallout and Response
Following the mounting criticism, Ikechan took action by muting comments on the controversial post. This move did little to quell the growing outrage, as discussions about her remarks continued to spread across various social media platforms.
The controversy emerges after Ikechan recently shared a vlog documenting her first visit to India. In the video content, she discussed her experiences flying with Air India and specifically mentioned the number of Indian passengers aboard the flight. Her travel vlog forms part of her broader content strategy that focuses on global destinations, local cuisine, cultural experiences, and lifestyle exploration.
Who Is Ikechan?
Ikechan is a popular Japanese content creator hailing from Akita Prefecture. She launched her YouTube channel in 2019 and has since built a substantial following of approximately 780,000 subscribers. Her videos have accumulated more than 180 million views to date.
Her content typically features solo travel adventures, daily life documentation, and explorations of local cultures and cuisines from around the world. Beyond YouTube, Ikechan has engaged in gravure modeling and has released photo books as part of her creative portfolio.
Social Media Reactions
Online reactions to Ikechan's post have been overwhelmingly critical. Users expressed their disappointment and anger through various comments:
- "I can tell you one thing, it wasn't worth being called a clown from all sides including your own country's citizens"
- "Are you out of your mind? Or are you just trying to make Japanese people hated by Indians?"
- "Guys dislike this video, she is coming to defame India only."
- "I think this woman is just ragebaiting Indians. But think before making such videos, it might start fueling hatred towards Japanese people among Indians."
- "Do you have some kind of problem with Indians? If so, then why did you come here in the first place?"
In her India vlog, Ikechan also addressed the topic of women's safety in the country, adding another dimension to her travel commentary. The combination of her flight remarks and safety discussions has created a perfect storm of controversy that continues to generate heated online debates.
The incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding cultural representation in travel content and the potential consequences of poorly worded social media posts. As international travel continues to rebound post-pandemic, content creators face increasing scrutiny regarding how they portray different countries and cultures to their global audiences.
