Outrage over viral Chilean woman who did pull-ups at Torii gate in Japan

THE torii They constitute one of the most characteristic architectural symbols of Japan . At first glance, they are simple structures, but they have great importance in Japanese culture and are considered something sacred .

For the same reason, the actions of a young woman Chilean caused great indignation among Asian Internet users. It is about María del Mar “Marimar” Pérez Banús gymnast and influencer who, while in Japan, recorded herself using a torii as a bar to do pull-ups.

In the video shared on social networks, we can see that The first thing the Chilean athlete did was hang from the top of the arch to complete a challenge on camera.

Next, Pérez did pull-ups, also known as chin-ups, while the song Cha Cha Slide by Mr. C played in the background.

Although the images were initially posted on Instagram, they quickly spread to other networks like X (formerly Twitter) and sparked controversy. wave of criticism mainly from Japanese Internet users who questioned the fact that the gymnast was using the torii gates to practice and check in, instead of respecting them.

“I hope you never come back to Japan.” And “There should be a law to control this sort of thing.” “, are some of the comments sparked by the behavior of the Chilean, who later deleted the video and made her Instagram profile private.

However, this is not the only time he has been recorded performing pirouettes on a sacred arch. In another disc, he is seen doing an exercise called a handstand on the stairs leading to a torii gate. Nakajima Park urban park located in the city of Sapporo. “I had to do it for the photo” he wrote in this publication.

Marimar Pérez Banus, 25, is an elite Chilean gymnast and content creator living in the United States.

Pérez has also developed an influencer side with her sister Madison, who, like her, is a gymnast. I have several medals. She was also part of the Catalonia regional rhythmic gymnastics team in 2018, as she lived in Spain for a while.

Pérez has also developed an influencer side with her sister Madison, who, like her, is a gymnast.

in your account @mmgymsistersmovement They often share content about their physical abilities, lifestyle and travel, which has formed a community of over 137 thousand subscribers .

Torii are monuments located in various cities in Japan. They are seen in forests, floating on water, but especially in Shinto shrines or on the path that leads there. They tend to be large and bright red they are therefore easily recognizable.

Each torii is made up of two tall parallel pillars connected by other horizontal pillars, giving them the appearance of an arch or gate. Some have legends inscribed on their beams.

The first were built with drink especially with camphor wood. However, more recent torii have been made of steel, copper or concrete.

It is no coincidence that a large part of these thresholds are located at the entrance to the temples. Yes: They represent the line that separates the sacred world from the profane.

In fact, when people pass under a torii, it means they are entering a spiritual realm, so they must bow before crossing.

Its origin is still unknown, which has given rise to several theories about it. One of them suggests that these doors are imported from other countries, since it has been found that in countries like India, China and Thailand there are similar structures.

And what does torii mean? The word comes from two kanji (synograms used in the Japanese language): tori, which can be translated as bird and the ending i, which means place .

The combination of these kanji is interpreted as “place for birds” . This also has a special meaning, since in the Shinto religion, birds are beings that can help send messages to the kami, that is, deities and supernatural beings.

In Japanese culture, torii are also considered structures that They ward off evil spirits, attract luck and symbolize resilience since some have survived several natural disasters.

An example of this is the arc of Sanno Shrine located in Nagasaki. After the atomic bomb explosions that hit the city in 1945, in which thousands lost their lives, a torii column was demolished. The other miraculously managed to survive the disaster, even though the explosion occurred only 800 meters away.

Seven decades after the devastating attack, this column still stands and is considered a symbol of resistance. There are also photographs of another arch believed to have remained standing in Nagasaki.

After the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in 2011, the durability of these sacred gates was once again evident. It’s not one torii, but several that have managed to survive in Japanese cities.

Although there are several torii sites visited by millions of Japanese and tourists each year, there is one that has become more famous. In Fushimi Inari Taisha Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess Inari and located in Kyoto, it is possible to find a vast and magical labyrinth of more than 10 thousand perfectly aligned torii .