On June 13, Jungkook appeared at a rehearsal for fellow BTS member J-Hope’s concert wearing a hat that read: “Make Tokyo Great Again.” The phrase, inspired by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, has been widely associated with Japan’s far-right movements and has sparked accusations of glorifying Japanese imperialism.
It was later revealed that Jungkook received the hat as a gift from an acquaintance. However, the backlash was swift. Netizens responded with comments like “People are buying a far-right slogan hat just because Jungkook wore it? Insane”, “He was thoughtless, but I hope this becomes a chance for him to study history more” and “This is disappointing from someone as globally influential as BTS.”
On June 14, Jungkook publicly apologized, stating, “I failed to fully recognize the historical and political significance of the phrase. It was careless and thoughtless of me. I have since discarded the hat.”
While Jungkook’s apology was widely seen as sincere, the Japanese brand behind the hat issued a baffling response. In their statement, the company said, “We sincerely apologize to anyone who felt discomfort. However, we believe in the freedom to express ideas through fashion. This design was not intended to convey a political message, but rather to symbolically represent hope for Tokyo’s fashion scene.”
Despite his apology, the brand responsible for the hat posted an update on Instagram stating the item had sold out, even including a photo of Jungkook wearing it.
The hat quickly sold out. Priced at 13,200 yen (approximately $92 USD), it drew massive attention due to Jungkook’s visibility.
Meanwhile, BTS’s military hiatus is nearing its end. Jin and J-Hope completed their service last year, RM and V were discharged on June 10, followed by Jimin and Jungkook on June 11. Suga, who is serving as a social service worker, is scheduled to complete his duty on June 21.
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