Italian Water Polo Stars Spark Backlash in Shibuya

 

A viral video of a shirtless, barefoot group of muscular foreign men walking through central Shibuya in Speedos has sparked outrage online, with many Japanese social media users calling for their arrest under public indecency laws.

The men were revealed to be professional athletes from Pro Recco, a top Italian water polo club. The guerilla walk was part of an unconventional marketing campaign aimed at boosting the visual appeal and global recognition of water polo—a promotional stunt they have previously executed in Italy and the US.

However, the stunt backfired in Tokyo. Japanese netizens voiced deep disgust, criticizing the display as culturally insensitive and inappropriate. Critics argued that such behavior breaches local social norms and requested police intervention, claiming a local doing the same would face immediate questioning or detention. Legal experts noted that while proving "obscenity" in court is complex, the stunt risks crossing into criminal public indecency under Japanese law. Ultimately, what was intended as a bold promotion for a niche sport resulted in a severe PR misstep.