A major controversy has erupted both in Japan and Thailand after Thai YouTuber Jack Papho posted a video of himself climbing onto the roof of a parked car, removing his shirt and dancing energetically in front of a Lawson convenience store in Fujikawaguchiko, a famous tourist spot known for its iconic view of Mount Fuji.
Within three hours of posting, the clip generated more than 12,000 comments, most of which criticised the behaviour as “highly inappropriate” and damaging to Thailand’s image. Some followers said they were unfollowing him altogether.
Japanese news outlets have now reported the incident, using headlines such as: Thai YouTuber causes chaos in Japan – car-roof dance at Fuji’s Lawson goes viral: ‘A disgrace to Thailand’.
Reports emphasised that Japanese society places strong importance on public manners and quiet, orderly conduct, and expressed concern that such behaviour could worsen the already strained perception towards foreign tourists amid the country’s serious overtourism problem.
Mr Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, Thailand’s minister for tourism and sports, on Nov 18, addressed the backlash surrounding the Thai YouTuber.
Asked whether the behaviour could tarnish the reputation of Thai tourists, Mr Atthakorn replied that it would have an impact. He said he had not seen the clip but noted that the authorities could not prevent such actions, as they fall within personal rights.
He added that the government has long campaigned for responsible behaviour among Thais abroad. “If you do something that violates their culture or rules, it will affect the country’s image,” he said.
He urged Thai travellers to be mindful, as “every negative action affects Thailand’s reputation”, before adding that he would prefer to see people travel domestically.
When asked whether the ministry would communicate with foreigners to prevent them from generalising Thai tourists, Mr Atthakorn said ongoing efforts were already in place.
On Thai social media, the backlash intensified after Jack Papho responded to comments with defensive and confrontational remarks, including statements about nationality and comparisons with other countries.
Influencers such as JapanSalaryman, Pigkaploy, and Golfwashere criticised the behaviour and explained why the location is particularly sensitive:
The Fuji–Lawson viewpoint already suffers from dangerous overcrowding
Tourists have been crossing streets illegally, leaving trash, and disrupting local residents
The authorities have considered measures to restrict access due to repeated misconduct
They warned that the clip reinforces negative stereotypes and contributes to growing frustration among Japanese residents about foreign visitors.
The controversy escalated further when a Facebook user submitted an open letter to the Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs, urging the government to revoke Jack Papho’s Thai passport and refuse future passport issuance, citing behaviour that “embarrasses Thailand abroad”.
Many Thai netizens supported the request, arguing that his actions damaged the country’s reputation. The calls extended to the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, where many urged the Japanese authorities to revoke his visa and ban him from entering Japan permanently.
The letter cited legal grounds under the 1977 Passport Act, allowing revocation if a passport holder commits offences abroad or acts in a way harmful to national security or public order.
Jack Papho had posted a statement saying he would not remove the video, claiming he wanted to “take responsibility, not run from the problem”, and that the incident was “a mistake to learn from”. He added: “I accept all criticism and apologise.”
Meanwhile, his partner also posted publicly, saying she had tried to stop him multiple times and urged people not to blame their child, explaining that she could not control his actions despite repeatedly warning him. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
ThailandYouTubeCelebritiesTourism
AloJapan.com