As Sunday Morning host Takako Zenba chuckled on air over a televised judo clip, social media erupted with public criticism over her reaction to an athlete being bitten on the arm during the 20th Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan.
Takako Zenba Laughs on Air During Sunday Morning Broadcast
In the quarterfinal match, Japanese judoka Rin Maeda was bitten on her left arm by China’s Tang Jing.
According to an entertainment reporter cited by SmartFLASH, Zenba laughed while watching the video playback on set, remarking afterward with a smile, There’s a clear bite mark.
Beside her, co-host Kengo Komada was reportedly seen struggling to contain his laughter.
The broadcast’s lighthearted tone drew immediate pushback online. Viewers took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their displeasure, with one user writing that Zenba laughed while delivering the remark alongside a laughing emoji, while others argued that a news program should offer proper criticism rather than amusement over such an incident.
The 20-Second Biting Incident in the Judo Quarterfinals
The on-air reaction contrasted sharply with the severity of the altercation on the mat. The confrontation unfolded when Tang Jing, facing the prospect of being pinned in a ground grappling exchange, bit down on Maeda’s left arm through her judogi, according to sports reports.
Footage and reporting indicated that Tang maintained the grip for nearly 20 seconds despite the referee issuing a mate
(wait) command. The hold left a distinct impression of teeth on Maeda’s forearm. Following a consultation, the officiating panel disqualified Tang for a foul, though she appeared displeased with the ruling.
Media outlets noted that Tang reportedly offered the explanation that her teeth had merely brushed against the opponent accidentally, drawing skepticism within China as well. Neither Tang nor the Chinese judo delegation released an official public statement addressing the incident in the immediate aftermath.
Contrasting Reactions From Olympic Champions and Public Observers
While the program’s anchors treated the moment with levity, guest commentator Saori Yoshida offered a starkly different perspective. The three-time Olympic wrestling champion issued a formal katsu!
(censure) on the broadcast, stating plainly that biting is unacceptable.
Public sentiment largely aligned with Yoshida’s condemnation. Commentators and sports journalists emphasized that the maneuver represented a clear departure from basic sportsmanship, arguing that an attack threatening an athlete’s physical safety warrants serious journalistic coverage rather than studio amusement.
Despite the physical violation, Maeda did not let the incident derail her tournament run. She advanced through the remaining rounds of the competition and secured the gold medal in the 70kg division later that day by defeating Kazakhstan’s opponent with a combined waza-ari ippon.
Tang Jing Returns to Competition in Mixed Team Events
The controversy did not prevent Tang from participating in subsequent tournament events. On October 4, the same day the broadcast aired, Tang competed in the judo mixed team competition.
Reports noted that Tang secured the sole victory for her squad during the team fixtures and subsequently joined her teammates on the podium to collect a bronze medal, smiling during the medal presentation ceremony.
Worth a look
