This is less an apology than a 55-minute cultural defense brief — Meng concedes the principle of disclosure while building an elaborate case for why the cultural arithmetic makes it rational to stay silent.
The top comment, with 49 likes, stopped watching at 6:40, writing 'it was clear this wasn't being taken seriously' — the tone that the hosts framed as taboo-breaking registered as evasion to the most engaged viewers.
Framing a public mea culpa as a casual two-friends-in-a-café chat, complete with tangential PrEP pricing and gacha jokes, created a structural gap between the gravity of the original statement and the register of the retraction.
Watch outThe xenophobia-as-cover argument ('if foreigners disclose and Japanese don't, it looks like foreigners are spreading STIs') introduces a second controversy on top of the first — several high-liked comments treat it as a rationalization rather than context.
If the cultural machinery of shame makes responsible disclosure functionally impossible for foreign gay men in Japan, what is the actual mechanism that slows transmission — and who is responsible for building it?
In a follow-up to a previous video, Andrew and Meng revisit Meng's controversial comment about not always informing sexual partners of an STI diagnosis. The video covers Meng's recent mycoplasma genitalium diagnosis and treatment, explains what mycoplasma is and why it often goes undetected, discusses testing and PrEP resources in Japan, and addresses the comment-section backlash. Meng offers a partial apology while explaining that his original position was shaped by experiences of xenophobic reactions as a foreigner in Japan disclosing STI status to Japanese partners.
Andrew and Meng respond to comment-section blowback from a previous video in which Meng implied he would not always disclose STI status to partners. The conversation weaves between a new mycoplasma genitalium diagnosis, a detailed rundown of gay health resources in Tokyo, and Meng's argument that his reticence is grounded in fear of anti-foreigner stigma rather than indifference. The apology lands in the middle of the video but is immediately qualified by cultural relativism claims and a frank account of being shamed and blocked when he has disclosed in the past.
How this video's like-and-comment rate compares to this channel's running average.
Opening 15 seconds — the bit that decides whether a viewer keeps watching.
“[0:00] Do you get it in a gacha shop or whatever? [0:02] It's gacha [0:03] It's so stupid! [0:06] Stop it! [0:07] Hi Tokyo Tops! [0:10] So what are we here today to do? [0:12] Which video are we doing? [0:13] We are doing STI, aren't we? [0:15] The followup after you were roasted in the comment section
The opening buries a genuinely high-stakes premise — a creator responding to mass public backlash — under an inside joke, a greeting, and meta-commentary about 'which video are we doing,' wasting 13 seconds before naming the topic. Compared to TokyoBTM's stronger entries that open mid-action, this hook treats a real controversy as a soft callback rather than the lead, losing retention before the actual substance (mycoplasma, Japan healthcare gaps, disclosure culture) is ever teased.
Three alternative openings, each in a different archetype. Each is under 40 words — completable in 15 seconds.
“I said something about STIs that got thousands of comments calling me irresponsible — so I spent a week reading every reply to figure out where I went wrong. Here's what I actually think now.”
WhyLeads with accountability and genuine intellectual tension of a creator re-evaluating a position under public pressure, which is the real reason viewers clicked.
“I just tested positive for mycoplasma — an STI most people have never heard of, no symptoms, growing antibiotic resistance. Here's what happened and whether I should have told my partners.”
WhyGrounds the controversy in a concrete teachable medical event and teases the disclosure dilemma that anchored 54% of comment discussion.
“Everyone says you must tell your partners when you have an STI. As a foreigner in Japan, I've been blocked, shamed, and reported every time I did — so I stopped. Here's why that was the right call.”
WhyStates the provocative position upfront with specific consequences, reflecting the cultural nuance argument that drove the top-liked comments including the Bangkok physician's response.
The title signals a soft internet-apology format ('so...about X') but the video delivers substantive medical information about mycoplasma genitalium — asymptomatic, antibiotic-resistant, barely known in Japan — plus a nuanced cultural analysis of why STI disclosure norms diverge between Japan and the West. Commenters who engaged most deeply were responding to the healthcare education and xenophobia framing, not the mild apology the title implies.
Show Meng looking directly at camera with a visible test kit or clinic context and bold text overlay posing a moral question ('Should I Have Told Them?') — the disclosure debate generated the highest emotional charge in comments and a thumbnail framing that question would convert curiosity from non-subscribers in the health-content ecosystem.
170 comments analysed and clustered into themes.
Viewers responded most positively to the candid personal vulnerability — Meng admitting 'if it's not chlamydia, it's mycoplasma, it's always something' landed as relatable and honest. The cultural nuance on xenophobia was widely praised as a perspective rarely acknowledged: 'Meng's opinion as a foreigner in a rather conservative country like Japan was valid and sensible.' The humor itself was defended by a substantial bloc: 'What are you expecting? A dry BBC style talk… you're watching two friends speak openly about their own experiences and laughing at the awkwardness. Like friends do.'
How the audience feels — a Net Sentiment mood score, how split the room is, and an early churn signal. All from the comments, not YouTube analytics.
Net Sentiment Score over 120 analysed comments; headline adjusted toward the channel norm (Bayesian, C=20). Polarization = normalised entropy. Comment-derived — not YouTube analytics.
Who actually showed up in the comments — psychographic, topical and language mix. Computed deterministically from 120 labeled root comments.
YouTube’s 2025 discovery shift now weights satisfaction signals — comment sentiment, tone, and depth. We can’t see the model, but we can estimate its inputs. Directional only.
1 of 120 labelled comments were flagged as showing regret about the title/thumbnail promise vs. the actual content.
Key transcript moments — tap a timestamp to jump to that point in the video.
Each comment theme mapped to the transcript moment that sparked it.
Meng's self-deprecating 'this is my life, guys — if it's not chlamydia, it's mycoplasma' disclosure loop, and his account of being shamed and blocked after notifying partners, prompted the wave of personal STI confessions and solidarity comments.
The laughing-while-discussing-diagnoses stretch at 4:43–4:57 ('we're laughing a lot about this') and the framing of the video as a quasi-apology at 10:50 ('I want to apologize') split the audience between those praising the tone as normalizing and those criticizing it as irresponsible — the 'grow up' comments at 18:35 were the flashpoint.
Severity × frequency — ranked. Each point has an evidence quote and a concrete before/after suggestion.
“too many in the younger crowd act like it’s a joke, giggling like schoolgirls, as if this isn’t still a life-and-death issue.”↗ view
“Hold on, you first apologize then make a bunch of excuses about culture.”↗ view
“Good Job! But I think you both or just Meng still need to understand that qualifying diseases by your perceived ranking of danger is just not right.”↗ view
“promoting a lifestyle of going to bathhouses to have anonymous sex with strangers is not only an irresponsible behavior, but is a prime way to spread disease as well.”↗ view
“Oh no, yall doing clickbaits now :(”↗ view
“It would be nice to have some more links in the info box for the different services you mentioned. 🤔”↗ view
“why do we treat sex like a sport or a currency? ... It feels like we’ve sidelined one of the simplest, most accessible tools for safer sex.”
“I'm going to research this later when editing, but I believe it also messes with your sperm count and viability”
“never give that holier than thou attitude(your past videos)..okay, sis.”↗ view
“I really don't think this warranted a statement”↗ view
What a brand or agency would see evaluating this video — which sponsors to pitch, why, what to charge, and what's safe.
This audience shows unusually strong purchase-referral behaviour: roughly two dozen comments name specific products and prices they buy — generic Descovy PrEP from Green Cross Pharmacy (3,000 yen/mo), mail-in test kits (24,000 yen/3mo), DoxyPEP — and follow the hosts' lead on where to get tested (@kirkcruz3764: 'I just sent a message to my doc... messaged a few friends about MGen'; @ericswann1417: 'I just did my 3-month checkup for PrEP yesterday'). One viewer even asked about Meng's phone unprompted (@bostrome: 'I noticed you're using a Samsung Galaxy Flip 7... are you happy with it?'). Ad tolerance is moderate, not high — clickbait complaints (@DavidinNYC, @3stesse) mean a native first-person read will land where a generic pre-roll would grate on a serious topic.
Mid-roll, first-person 'here's where I actually get my PrEP/testing' read for a sexual-health telehealth brand — native to how the hosts already discuss products; avoid a generic pre-roll, which this serious-topic audience will reject.
“I just sent a message to my doc asking about getting tested. Also, I've already messaged a few friends asking about this, apparently I'm not the only one who is just now learning about MGen”— The video directly converts to real health-action behaviour — proof of audience trust and follow-through a sponsor wants.↗ view
“Meng! I noticed that you're using a Samsung Galaxy Flip 7. Are you happy with it? Why did you choose it over an iPhone?”— Unprompted product-purchase curiosity aimed at the host — textbook influencer-recommendation receptivity.↗ view
“The info on PrEP and DoxyPrEP was super useful, but I think it's also worth talking about condoms...”— Audience treats the channel as a trusted product/health-info source, exactly the context a telehealth brand buys.↗ view
“It would be nice to have some more links in the info box for the different services you mentioned.”— Viewers are explicitly asking for product/service links — an open door for a sponsored resource CTA.↗ view
Algorithm Signal is a proxy. YouTube’s satisfaction scores aren’t public. Directional, not predictive.
Unanswered questions and explicit requests from the comment thread — fuel for the next upload.
Three video ideas pulled directly from what the comments asked for.
Sexual health doctor panel: mycoplasma genitalium deep dive — symptoms, resistance, treatment ladder, and what SH Gairai's research is actually finding
The 'foreigner disease' history: how HIV became racialized in Japan, why disclosure culture never developed, and what that means for the current syphilis spike
Anonymous STI notification — does anything work in Japan? Testing existing apps, the ward health center system, anonymous text services used in SF/NYC/London
PrEP cost global comparison: free in Brazil, €10 in Germany, ¥24,000 in Tokyo — why, and what would it take for Japan to change
Condoms: why did gay men stop using them, and is PrEP + Doxy actually an equivalent replacement or a blind spot
Japanese gay man perspective: filming a candid conversation with a Japanese friend about STI shame, disclosure norms, and why 'nama' is the default ask
Concrete, testable changes for the next upload. Each cites a timestamp, a comment quote, or a metric — and names what to watch.
Add clinic/PrEP/at-home-test-kit links to the description and a pinned comment.
Put an on-screen source/citation whenever a medical claim is stated.
Bring on a sexual-health physician as a guest for the follow-up.
Lead with the serious frame in the first 60 seconds before the humor.
Produce a standalone mycoplasma/MGen explainer (video or Short).
Rework the thumbnail/title to lower clickbait perception and make Meng recognizable.
Add Japanese subtitles given the Japan-specific topic and engaged Japanese viewers.
Feature or build an anonymous partner-notification resource/CTA.
Pin a short written clarification of the disclosure-responsibility stance to defuse the debate.
Cut a separate clip comparing PrEP/testing access and cost across countries.
Who to reply to first — ranked by impact, with a ready-to-send draft in your voice.
I'm 36. When I was 23, I was diagnosed with HIV. I used to regularly get tested so I immediately found out. I'm physically 100% in very good health, I'm undetectable ever since the very beginning, never passed it to anyone, but psychologically it is kinda hard to live and deal with the stigma, the fear of telling someone you like, you feel lonely and lots of stuff. Please remember one time only may be enough to get it. I somehow live the same life of people around me, but as long as this is not curable, there's always gonna be a shadow inside me haunting. Hope a cure will come soon. You don't have to be a drug addict or a sl*t to get this stuff so… please learn from my mistake.
Thank you for sharing this — genuinely. The psychological weight you're describing is exactly what doesn't get talked about enough, and the fact that you test regularly and have never passed it on says everything about who you are. Hope that cure comes sooner than we think.
Hi. A sexual health physician from Bangkok here. Just wanted to say thank you for talking about your feelings and thoughts on HIV/STI so openly. It is a much needed conversation and I am sure that a lot of people will benefit from this video. Also, I do agree with Andrew on how people's responses and views towards these infections are extremely diverse and context-specific. Take the willingness to disclose STI diagnosis for example, if a person is from a more conservative country where HIV and STI are still stigmatized and discriminated, disclosing your HIV status can lead to unemployment, social ban or even deportation. There are a lot of people who have to fly across the country to places like Bangkok to get their tests done and receive treatment. So, it is important to understand these nuances and collectively apply changes to the existing culture without shaming/labelling people. Meng's opinion as a foreigner in a rather conservative country like Japan was valid and sensible. It's an issue that Japanese healthcare system needs to solve for him.
This is such an important framing — thank you for putting it so clearly. The point about people flying to Bangkok just to get tested is something we hadn't even thought to bring up, and it makes the structural problem so much more visible than individual choices.
I just don't understand how we're living in 2025—almost 40 years since HIV/AIDS was first discovered—and yet it feels like the younger generation of the gay community doesn't care. We still have elders among us, men who survived the worst years, some living long and healthy lives with HIV, others still HIV negative, and they're trying to pass down knowledge and guidance. But instead of listening, too many in the younger crowd act like it's a joke, giggling like schoolgirls, as if this isn't still a life-and-death issue. Yes, HIV is treatable today—but it is not curable. And beyond HIV, other STIs are becoming extremely difficult to treat because of resistance. This is not something to take lightly. When your video popped up, I gave it a chance. I watched until 6 minutes and 40 seconds, and then I stopped—I just couldn't keep going. It was clear this wasn't being taken seriously.
You're right that the laughter can read the wrong way if you stop early — honestly, that's fair. The reason we laugh is because we've both sat with the shame and the fear alone, and humor is how we got through it enough to talk at all. We absolutely don't think it's trivial, and we hear what you're saying about the responsibility to the generation that came before us.
I'm Japanese. Although most Chinese people are not causing any problems, the mass media and social media are spreading misleading information every day that Chinese people coming to Japan are having a negative impact on Japan. I can understand why Meng is hesitant to say honestly.
Thank you for saying this — and for being honest about what's actually being spread in Japanese media. This is exactly the context that's hard to explain to people outside of Japan, and having someone local confirm it matters a lot.
Hey Tokyo BTMs, great video! Big fan from Sweden. Mycoplasma genitalium is not new, but it is silent or symptomless for many men. I got it last December and it took me 3 different treatments to heal it. The doctor used to say 40-60% of gay men in Sweden could have it and don't know or feel it. Some people could even heal while taking other STIs treatments, except doxycycline, which is not effective.
Three rounds of treatment — that's rough, really glad you got through it. And that 40-60% figure from your doctor is wild, it really underlines how many people have no idea. This is exactly the kind of thing that should be in follow-up resources, thank you.
I have never heard of MGen / Mycoplasma genitalium, thank you for taking about this! I just sent a message to my doc asking about getting tested. Also, I've already messaged a few friends asking about this, apparently I'm not the only one who is just now learning about MGen
This is literally the whole point of making the video — go get tested! Let us know what your doc says, and tell your friends to tell their friends.
Japanese people STILL think they are immune to stds and that they are foreign diseases. Just look at how hard it is to get recent figures about HIV in Japan. As for guys and Grindr or other apps, the number of them into BB is quite telling. They think Prep saves them from everything and they don't even consider the risks of other Stds.I've literally had so many guys telling "You can live just fine with Hiv now with all the treatments". I'd rather live without it. Laughing about it is fine if it's to inform but I've also heard a lot of excuses in this video. You go to bathhouses and saunas that don't even offer free condoms or lube and let guys fuck you without even asking if they're on prep or them asking you. NO, not everyone has Chlamidiae in japan. I've reached the age of 52 without ever getting and Std/Sti because I'm responsible and don't take stupid risks just for some dick. It IS your responsability. We live in a time that if everyone was careful and not an irresponsible fucker, we could see the end of Aids. So why is it not happening? Grow the fuck up.
The frustration is fair and we hear it. The point about bathhouses not providing free condoms is real and worth more airtime — that's a venue responsibility gap that individual choices can't fix alone. Not excuses, just trying to show the whole picture.
Hi guys, thanks for pointing out my comment from your last video about a way we deal with STI's in San Francisco. I totally understand that my view is "Eurocentric" and I have never been to Japan, all I know about it is what you present in your videos. I appreciate you trying to find solutions to stop the spread of STI's that fits the needs of the Japanese culture. :) The Japanese culture that doesn't take responsibiilty for it's own diseases (and blames foreigners) will create a whole host of problems for itself, and that's not your fault..
Really appreciate you coming back and engaging with all of this — and for taking the Japan-specific context on board. The cross-cultural comparison is genuinely useful, it just needs the local layer too, and you got that. Thanks for being part of the conversation.
Lesson on how to apologize… without really apologizing! Well done Meng. You're still exactly at the same level as when you made the comment.😢
That's a fair read — the cultural context explanation can come across as walking it back. What we were trying to show is that it's a real structural problem, not a personal excuse, but if it landed as deflection that's on us.
Wow some of the comments are insane. What are you expecting? A dry BBC style talk about sti's with some crusty TV presenter. You're watching two friends speak openly about their own experiences and laughing (gasp) at the awkwardness. Like friends do.. i think some of you guys don't have friends or people in your life that you can have such deep conversations with.
"A dry BBC style talk with some crusty TV presenter" 😭 this is going in a future intro somehow. Thank you for actually getting what we're going for.
The info on PrEP and DoxyPrEP was super useful, but I think it's also worth talking about condoms and the rise in STIs like chlamydia and syphilis. Biomedical tools are great, but relying only on them can create blind spots. And beyond that—why do we treat sex like a sport or a currency? Choosing to pause or be more intentional about sex can be just as valid and empowering. I'm not saying this from a place of prejudice, but from lived insight and reflection. Also—when did we stop using condoms, and why? It feels like we've sidelined one of the simplest, most accessible tools for safer sex. Would love to see that part of the conversation come back.
The condom question is honestly one we've been dancing around and probably need to just do a full video on — the shift from condom culture to PrEP culture happened fast and quietly and there's a lot to unpack there. Good push.
Wow, I've never heard of Mycoplasma before here in Canada. However, we do get free STI testing and PrEP/DoxyPrEP/DoxyPEP. with our healthcare system. I do find that there is still a lot of stigma around STI's and people are too scared to tell others that they have sexual encounters with that they got tested positive for something. And your point about gay saunas/bathhouses is true as well, sometimes you can't really tell everyone to get tested if they caught something from you. I also like that anonymous notification system, maybe someone should develop an app for it. Thanks for the information! @Andrew: It was nice to meet and chat with you at Moonlight in Korea. I've seen you and Meng around in Bangkok before but I'm way too much of an introvert and shy to approach anyone. I know it's odd that I'm at these big events and yet I still prefer to be mostly alone and do my own thing. I think a lot of people probably find me really weird/awkward being by myself 😅.
You were at Moonlight?! Andrew says hi back — and please come say hi next time, being alone at big events is honestly valid and there's nothing weird about it. Glad the video was useful, Canada doing free PrEP is the dream.
Shareable social-proof quotes — ready for thumbnails, community posts, or a sponsor deck.
“Thank you for talking about your feelings and thoughts on HIV/STI so openly. It is a much needed conversation and I am sure that a lot of people will benefit from this video.”
“Wow some of the comments are insane. What are you expecting? A dry BBC style talk about sti's with some crusty TV presenter. You're watching two friends speak openly about their own experiences and laughing (gasp) at the awkwardness. Like friends do.”
“I have never heard of MGen / Mycoplasma genitalium, thank you for taking about this! I just sent a message to my doc asking about getting tested.”
“I do not have a problem with serious problems being approached with humour. Much useful information is in this video and anyone needing further advice can seek it out from a health practitioner. Keep the humour happening. This world is frequently dark and terrible and we need more humour!”
“You are actually shedding a light on an important issue and doing it in an approachable and contextual manner. Keep up the good work and don't let the negativity get to you.”
“Great discussion with humour and intelligence. Cultural differences are definitely part of the conversation here.”
“I hate that some people think that humor is a bad thing. My grandma was cracking joke all the time while her fight against cancer was at it's worse. It was HER way of coping and I learned a lot from that. You guys are amazing in making the conversation going about this!”
“This is a serious conversation.”
Moments worth cutting into Shorts — each with a title and a ready hook line. Timestamps link to the video.
Verbatim — the 5 most representative comments from the thread.
I just don’t understand how we’re living in 2025—almost 40 years since HIV/AIDS was first discovered—and yet it feels like the younger generation of the gay community doesn’t care. We still have elders among us, men who survived the worst years, some living long and healthy lives with HIV, others still HIV negative, and they’re trying to pass down knowledge and guidance. But instead of listening, too many in the younger crowd act like it’s a joke, giggling like schoolgirls, as if this isn’t still a life-and-death issue. Yes, HIV is treatable today—but it is not curable. And beyond HIV, other STIs are becoming extremely difficult to treat because of resistance. This is not something to take lightly. When your video popped up, I gave it a chance. I watched until 6 minutes and 40 seconds, and then I stopped—I just couldn’t keep going. It was clear this wasn’t being taken seriously. If you look at the situation in Japan, across Asia, and in Russia, the story is not a pleasant one. And if we don’t start taking responsibility here, the same story can unfold again.
Hi. A sexual health physician from Bangkok here. Just wanted to say thank you for talking about your feelings and thoughts on HIV/STI so openly. It is a much needed conversation and I am sure that a lot of people will benefit from this video. Also, I do agree with Andrew on how people’s responses and views towards these infections are extremely diverse and context-specific. Take the willingness to disclose STI diagnosis for example, if a person is from a more conservative country where HIV and STI are still stigmatized and discriminated, disclosing your HIV status can lead to unemployment, social ban or even deportation. There are a lot of people who have to fly across the country to places like Bangkok to get their tests done and receive treatment. So, it is important to understand these nuances and collectively apply changes to the existing culture without shaming/labelling people. Meng’s opinion as a foreigner in a rather conservative country like Japan was valid and sensible. It’s an issue that Japanese healthcare system needs to solve for him.
I’m 36. When I was 23, I was diagnosed with HIV. I used to regularly get tested so I immediately found out. I’m physically 100% in very good health, I’m undetectable ever since the very beginning, never passed it to anyone, but psychologically it is kinda hard to live and deal with the stigma, the fear of telling someone you like, you feel lonely and lots of stuff. Please remember one time only may be enough to get it. I somehow live the same life of people around me, but as long as this is not curable, there’s always gonna be a shadow inside me haunting. Hope a cure will come soon. You don’t have to be a drug addict or a sl*t to get this stuff so… please learn from my mistake.
Wow some of the comments are insane. What are you expecting? A dry BBC style talk about sti's with some crusty TV presenter. You're watching two friends speak openly about their own experiences and laughing (gasp) at the awkwardness. Like friends do.. i think some of you guys don't have friends or people in your life that you can have such deep conversations with.
No one is responsible for your health but you. Protect yourself with PrEP, DoxyPrEP, etc., get tested, educate yourself, and own your choices. Your body, your rules—sex is a positive human experience, meant to be fun and free of stigma.
Top reply-magnet comments — where the real debate happened. 50 replies across 27 roots · max chain 3 deep · creator replied to 5%
I just don’t understand how we’re living in 2025—almost 40 years since HIV/AIDS was first discovered—and yet it feels like the younger generation of the gay community doesn’t care. We still have elders among us, men who survived the worst years, some living long and …
INFLUENCER APOLOGY VIDEO? NEW CAREER BREAKTHROUGH!
This is something that has been announced for a long time, but Japanese people just ignore, they think they are immune to STI Most of them just ask about doing “nama”, and refuse if is “safe”
As someone who has had almost every STI, thank you for bringing awareness to this topic. Also the people who are angry need to get off their pedestal. Yes it’s important to disclose, but in today’s society casual sexual encounters involve little info about the other guy. I…
Why do you guys joke about it? It’s serious disease and never completely cured. People can die of syphilis. Please take good care of yourselves regardless of straight or gay ❤❤❤
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