Photo/Illutration NingNing, left, with the other members of South Korean girl group aespa (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

NingNing, a Chinese member of South Korean girl group aespa who has come under fire in Japan over a social media post concerning a mushroom cloud, has withdrawn from NHK’s year-end television special.

The group’s agency, SM Entertainment Co., announced on Dec. 29 that NingNing would not perform on the “Kohaku Uta Gassen” music show on New Year’s Eve due to influenza.

The annual program on Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) features performances by entertainment stars, past and present, ahead of the ringing in of the new year.

For the first time, NHK invited aespa to perform on the show this year.

However, online calls for the group to be barred from the program have grown since NingNing’s 2022 post to a fan app re-emerged.

The post showed a photo of a lamp shaped like a mushroom cloud with the caption, “I bought a cute lamp, what do you think?”

Critics said the lamp was reminiscent of the aftermath of an atomic bombing. An online petition circulated, demanding aespa’s removal from the Kohaku lineup.

The petition, which gathered more than 140,000 signatures, said NingNing’s post “treats a historical tragedy lightly,” and that aespa needs “time to deepen their understanding of Japanese culture and history.”

The multinational girl group comprises NingNing, two South Korean members, Karina and Winter, and one Japanese member, Giselle.

In its Dec. 29 announcement, the agency addressed the controversy, stating: “While this post had no specific purpose or intention, it did cause various concerns. We will pay closer attention going forward.”

Regarding NingNing’s health, the agency explained, “After continuing to feel unwell, she was examined at a hospital, where it was confirmed she was infected with influenza, and a doctor has advised that she needs sufficient rest and recuperation.”

The three other aespa members will perform on Kohaku as scheduled, the agency added.

The controversy had previously been raised in Japan’s legislature.

On Dec. 2, a lawmaker from Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) mentioned the public petition and questioned NHK’s judgment at an Upper House internal affairs committee meeting.

At the time, NHK representatives said they had confirmed with aespa’s agency that “the member in question had no intention of trivializing or mocking the atomic bomb damage.”

At a Dec. 17 news conference, an NHK official said, “There are no changes to the scheduled appearance.”

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