Japanese woman in Mumbai: ‘I want to show how beautiful and amazing India really is’: Japanese woman living in Mumbai responds to negative portrayal of India on social media
A video depicting a country’s problems can quickly shape how people perceive it, especially if social media gives such content wider reach. But does that tell the whole story? A Japanese content creator living in Mumbai raised this question after noticing how India is often portrayed online.
His comments have sparked discussion among social media users, with many sharing their thoughts on why a country should not be judged by its mistakes alone.Hikaru-san moved from Japan to Mumbai eight months ago. In a recent Instagram video, he talked about his experience living in India and why he wants people to see the whole picture of the country.
A Japanese woman challenges India’s negative image
Hikaru-san said that online content often presents India as a poor and dirty country.
He pointed out that such a portrayal leaves out other aspects of the country’s life.He also pointed out that garbage disposal is not only in India, as garbage is found in other places in Japan. He encouraged people to visit India, experience its culture and interact with its people before forming an opinion.He also slammed content creators who, in his opinion, present a misleading image of India to attract views and engagement.
‘I want to show how beautiful and amazing India really is’
Hikaru-san spoke highly of the food, culture and people of India, saying that he wanted to show these aspects to a wider audience.In the caption of her Instagram video, she wrote, “Moving to India has changed the way I see a lot of things. I want to keep showing the world how beautiful and amazing India really is.”
Social media users shared their reactions
The video prompted users to discuss how everyday problems, including garbage and waste disposal, can be found in different parts of the world.One user described living in a safe and clean neighborhood in New York City for 20 years but remembered the foul smell of garbage left on the pavement for collection. This person also revealed that he saw a video of garbage overflowing from the bins on the Brooklyn Bridge.In response to the comment, Hikaru-san wrote, “Sure! Every country has its problems, even the places we think are good. No country is perfect, and I think it’s important to see the good sides!”Another user pointed out India’s large population while explaining why the number of people involved in negative incidents may seem high.“Simple math. Every country has good and bad people. But India’s population is billions, so even 1% of India’s population is equal to the population of most countries. Meaning, statistically, India may have more ‘bad’ people, but that’s just because of the population!” user commented.Some reactions included, “Thank you for providing such great points.”Another user praised Hikaru-san, writing, “You have a good heart, and god bless you.”However, one person added a very important comment about the cost of living in India, noting, “India is truly amazing; you don’t have to lose it completely.
