A popular Japanese TV program featured a UK model on February 13 who
once suffered from selective mutism. During and after the broadcast, at
least hundreds of people, including those who had not known SM until
then, made comments about SM on the Internet.
The TV program is Za! Sekai Gyouten News
broadcast by Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV). A popular
comedian Tsurube Shofukutei and a popular singer Masahiro Nakai host the
program. Gyouten is broadcast almost all across the country
every week on prime time (Wed 21:00-21:54). On February 13 NTV broadcast
a two hour special (20:00-21:54) including a SM story.
The protagonist of the story is a girl named Kirsty Heslewood, born in the
UK. She suffered from SM but overcame it thanks to her mother and
teacher. She now works as a model. I guess some readers of my blog may
know her because her story appeared in the Daily Mail when she was selected as a finalist of Miss England.
During
and after the broadcast, at least hundreds of viewers of the program
commented about SM via Twitter, Facebook, BBS, blogs, etc. I have never
known so many Japanese people comment about SM. Interestingly, not a few
of them had not known SM until then. Gyouten seems to increase awareness of SM.
But
some express concern. Knet, a SM support group based in Japan, warned
viewers not to show videos of children with SM talking in their house
without their permission like Kirsty's story. Knet says that often
worsens symptoms or breaks trust among children, parents, and teachers.
