The country rejoiced last Sunday when the United States defeated Japan 5-2 in the Women’s World Cup finals. It was a match to celebrate for both fans and non-fans. In fact, it was the most-watched soccer game ever in U.S. history and the women’s team’s first World Cup win since 1999. However, some took the victory as a chance to express their anti-Japan sentiments online. Following the game, U.S. netizens began to tweet about how the game was “payback” for Japan’s 1941 attack on the U.S. naval base, Pearl Harbor.
Japan wishing they never bombed Pearl Harbor right about now…
– Joe Head (@JoeHeadTV) July 5, 2015
What’s that Japan? You don’t like a surprising offensive attack? Neither do we. #PearlHarbor #Neverforget
– Kyle Kelly (@KyleKelly56) July 5, 2015
Time to get revenge on the Japs again for Pearl Harbor! #USWNT #adaywhichwillliveininfamy
– Chayce Bolli (@BolliChayce) July 5, 2015
“Pearl Harbor” and “USAv.JPN” were among the most popular trending topics on Twitter following the match. The Pearl Harbor references were also accompanied by tweets glorifying the United States’ atomic bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
2 bomb goals from the US!! We’ll call them Hiroshima and Nagasaki!!
– Boring Tim Duncan (@boringTimmyD) July 5, 2015
Japan haven’t been destroyed by the United States this hard since Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
– #GriezmannDaily (@CarefreeDaily) July 5, 2015
Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Vancouver Three locations USA has blown Japan away
– Kevin Pierce (@Kpierceswag) July 6, 2015
#USA BEATIN THE JAPS SINCE 1945.
– Naomi Hollywood (@naomihollywood) July 6, 2015
At least 2,400 people died in the attack on Pearl Harbor and at least 185,000 people died in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Many netizens who recognized these events as tragedies were horrified by the insensitive tweets and responded with their own comments.
#prayers for victims of #PearlHarbor who’s memories are being diminished by football hooliganism today. Using dead of wars is disgrace.
– Natsuo Niimi å¤ç”Ÿæ–°è¦‹ (@Toppojuri) July 6, 2015
If you’re tweeting Pearl Harbor jokes at us, please stop and log off
– Stars and Stripes FC (@StarsStripesFC) July 5, 2015
