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A right-wing Japanese newspaper on Saturday accused the hit South Korean film “Assassination” of being anti-Japanese and damaging the two countries’ relations.

Sankei Shimbun published an editorial Saturday saying, “In films and dramas alike, everyone lightly handles the matter of anti-Japanese sentiment as a source of entertainment.”

“Perhaps they do not realize this irritates the Japanese people and creates negativity,” it said.

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It noted that every year, South Korea has released films depicting the sensitive history of Japanese occupation, to coincide with Liberation Day on Aug. 15.

“However, in the past, there had been (films with) conciliatory plots of love and friendship that transcended borders,” it said.

The editorial described “Assassination” as a film featuring “Terrorists during the Japanese colonial era that sings of anti-Japanese nationalism.”

“Assassination” is set in 1933 in Shanghai and Seoul, and tells the story of Korean independence fighters on a mission to kill a Japanese official.

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The film notched up 8 million domestic ticket sales within three weeks of its release. Its distribution rights were sold to 15 nations, including Hong Kong, Myanmar and India.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)

Related article: ‘Assassination’ to be released in 15 nations