Japanese announcer under fire for vaping in no-smoking zone during MLB Seoul Series
Published: 26 Mar. 2024, 11:45
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- KIM JI-YE
- [email protected]
![Japanese freelance announcer Seiji Miyane smokes at a no-smoking area in Korea last Wednesday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/03/26/1b892a7b-27a8-45b0-a899-fdc5fccf7eda.jpg)
Japanese freelance announcer Seiji Miyane smokes at a no-smoking area in Korea last Wednesday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]
“A Japanese individual working in the media industry was reprimanded by a facility guard for smoking at a baseball stadium,” wrote a Japanese user of X, formerly known as Twitter, last Wednesday.
“Though he was scolded just minutes before smoking on the street, he is smoking again in a different area,” the user added, along with a video of a man using his electronic cigarette.
In the video, the man, wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform and hat, was seen standing near a camera while smoking.
The 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) Seoul Series took place at the Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul last Wednesday and Thursday, featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres.
The man was later identified as Seiji Miyane, a Japanese freelance announcer who currently hosts Japan's Osaka-based broadcaster Yomiuri TV’s “Joho Live Miyaneya,” which began airing in 2006.
The post also said, “Why did he come to Korea?” and “The staff not warning him is also a problem,” accompanied by a photo of a separate smoking booth at the baseball stadium.
Following the post, many X users left comments such as “It’s one’s freedom to smoke, however, one should also be mindful of one’s manners,” “Places for smokers are diminishing due to individuals who don’t follow the rules,” and “Smoke at designated areas or at home.”
The announcer apologized for his behavior during his TV show “Joho Live Miyaneya” last Thursday, after controversy arose regarding his actions.
“I first want to apologize [for my behavior],” he said during the show. “I smoked my electronic cigarette at a no-smoking zone while I was covering the MLB game held in Seoul the previous day.”
“I have disappointed and worried many people. From now on, I’ll go back to the beginning and work hard. I am sincerely sorry.”
BY HYEON YE-SEUL [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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