2011.1.22 Complaint to BBC ／ BBCへの苦情

昨年の１２月中旬イギリスBBCの番組QIが広島、長崎で２重被爆した山口彊さんについて、The Unluckiest Man in the Worldとして取り上げたことが、最近になって日本のメディアが報道したところ、大きな騒動になった。
YouTubeで実際にその番組をみたところ、その低俗さと、被爆者をに対する配慮のなさに憤りを覚えた。　以下はBBCに送った苦情の内容だ。

Dear sirs,

I learned from Japanese media on the bad jokes that your comedy program 'QI' aired about Tsutomu Yamguchi ('The Unluckiest Man in the World') who experienced the atomic bombs both in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  I just saw it on YouTube today.

In Japan, any subjects regarding the atomic bomb and its victims are handled with maximum caution and never used in jokes, at least on media. This is because most Japanese learn what had happened  to those victims and share the sorrow they had to live through their life. If a Japanese TV station run the similar program in Japan, I must say the President will most likely be forced to resign in due time. There would be no excuse of any kind to be allowed. It IS a delicate subject.

To be fair enough, I understand at fully what has been said in your program. Surely they talked a lot about our railway system that was able to run even after the bomb devastated Hiroshima and that brought Yamaguchi home to Nagasaki. But also talked a lot about Yamaguchi's getting second bomb in Nagasaki jokingly.  Some people may just called it a kind of British sense of humor or typical black joke. But I would say it is not funny and really  bad one.

Alan Davies - The bomb landed on him and bounced off. Alan Davies - He went to hospital in Nagasaki. Stephen Fry - Wedged between two mushroom clouds! Bill Bailey -It's happening again! What are the chances!  Rob Brydon - Is the glass half-empty, is it half-full? Either way, it's radioactive. Don't drink it! (laughter)  Bill Bailey - It's the wrong kind of bomb. (laughter)  Stephen Fry - Right kind of bomb. 

I already heard that the producer of the program has submitted apology mail against the Japanese Embassy's official protest but as BBC, so far I am not aware of any actions that have been taken. I wonder if BBC is handling the matter very lightly and trying to ignore the mounting criticism over this inappropriate broadcasting. My opinion is that BBC should issue an official apology and its explanation on the web site to settle this matter as soon as possible. Thank you.

Satoshi Banya
(posted 9:05 Jan. 22, 2011 Basel)