Actor Joe Odagiri faced criticism recently when he kept chewing gum while on-stage in Japan, breaking a local social norm. Recognizing his mistake, Odagiri has issued a public apology for the lack of manners displayed on stage. The event took place at an undisclosed location and the exact timing is unknown as of now. While it may have seemed a minor misstep on the actor's part, it has stirred up a conversation on respecting social etiquettes in the public sphere.

Japan places great importance on upholding social manners and etiquettes, especially among public figures who serve as role models. Chewing gum on a formal platform could be seen as disrespectful and inconsiderate of the audience due to the noisy and distracting nature of the act. Odagiri's apology reflects the society's expectations towards its public figures and reiterates the importance of maintaining social propriety.

The chewing gum incident Escalated in Japan; in the US or EU, such an incident might have gone relatively unnoticed. These discrepancies highlight the cultural differences between Japan and Western countries, where there is more leniency towards informal behaviors in public figures. However, in situations where a public figure has displayed such a lack of manners in the West, apologies and public relations cleanups are typical.