Japanese table tennis prodigy, Tomokazu Harimoto, was not referred to by his name during a sports event in China, leading to an apology from the Chinese side. The incident occurred when the Japanese table tennis player was announced simply as "the Japanese participant," omitting his name, a break from the convention of player introductions. The Chinese hosts later expressed their regret for the incident.

In Japan, respect for individual recognition is highly appreciated and embedded in its culture, hence the misidentification during such an event was seen as disrespect towards Harimoto. Furthermore, the incident also drew criticism as there are political tensions between Japan and China.

In the US or EU, a similar situation would also be viewed as disrespectful. It is a basic courtesy in international sports events to acknowledge athletes by name. Therefore, the incident would likely be taken seriously, leading to apologies and corrective measures.