Why this culture appropriate debate need a closer look

Last month, the American J-pop group Sorb3t sparked controversy on TikTok after posting a short clip of call-and-response. Many viewers apparently frowned at one Asian and two white singers performing J-pop-influenced songs, especially when one member pronounced two words—strawberry and blueberry—like Japanese.

The viewers accused the white woman of purposely pronouncing the words like Japanese, but is this accusation plausible? As a Japanese, I find this debate harmful from a different perspective.

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The video certainly made me wonder why she pronounced those particular words in Japanese while the rest of the call and response was entirely in English.

However, there is an important distinction that seems to be lost in the senseless arguing. The words she spoke are Japanese words derived from English, rather than bad Japanese pronunciation of English.

ストロベリー (Japanese pronunciation is sutoroberii) is, of course, originally an English word. But sutoroberii is so common as a Japanese word. Countless words, borrowed from English, have become part of the Japanese language thanks to 片仮名 (Katakana), which allows foreign words to enter the Japanese lexicon while maintaining their original concept.

McDonald’s sells マックシェイク ストロベリー (McShake Strawberry) without calling it 苺 (ichigo), the native Japanese word for strawberry. Yet, everyone understands that it refers to a strawberry flavor.

The video certainly lacked context. But who can place blame on the ineffective delivery on TikTok, where viewers skip through videos within a minute?

Pointless Accusations Keep Missing the Point

The group member later posted another clip of a formal apology and provided more background information. Her Japanese boyfriend came up with the phrase, and she thought it was acceptable to pronounce strawberry in a Japanese manner because she admired J-pop and aspired to a future solo debut incorporating call and response elements.

Nevertheless, cyberbullying from viewers persisted, leading the group to take a break. They also received supportive comments such as 日本人は気にしてないから大丈夫だよ (It’s alright, Japanese people don’t mind it) but the negativity on social media was too much to bear.

Personally, I don’t mind them saying sutoroberii, even if it’s a bit weird to have a few Japanese Katakana words in the middle of an English clip.

The flat pronunciation of Katakana is a must in Japan, and most people—including me—don’t feel ashamed of it. That’s because Katakana doesn’t mean Japanese-accented English. (And what’s wrong with a Japanese accent anyway?)

The Underlying Assumption Is the Source of Dissent

If you haven’t visited Japan, you may think Katakana is only broken English used by Japanese who struggle to pronounce English like Americans.

In reality, that’s far from the truth.

Katakana traces its origin back to a millennium ago when it served as a tool for Japanese people to read classic Chinese literature. Throughout history, Katakana has assisted in facilitating the appreciation of foreign cultures and languages from all over the world.

Let’s take the example of the word credit card. In Katakana, it’s pronounced kurejitto kaado. If you’re an American living in Japan and pronounce it in English to avoid being disrespectful, you’ll run into trouble at shops and restaurants when people won’t understand you.

For most Japanese people, the English pronunciation is too fast and foreign compared to the familiar Katakana version of kurejitto kaado. Katakana is critical in Japan regardless of one’s ethnicity or background, and it acts as a bridge connecting various languages within the country. Besides, it also helps Japanese learners carry on daily conversations.