Why Japanese DJ who survived spiked-drink ordeal in Hong Kong keeps apologising

When Mao Hamasaki, also known as DJ Mao, took to the social media platform X earlier this month to recount the ordeal of consuming a spiked drink in Hong Kong, her comments were accompanied by an apology, leaving many local social media users perplexed. “They said, ‘You are the victim, why do you keep apologising and taking the blame’, making it sound like I’m putting the fault on myself.

But that is honestly just how we [Japanese] talk,” she said. “People in Hong Kong are much more direct.

They...