Home · World · Oct 29 archive
Hello Kitty company cuts ties with Japanese spy show after China outcry
Confirmed
In Short: Sanrio, the company behind Hello Kitty, has ended its merchandise partnership with the Japanese TV show VIVANT after facing backlash in China.
In a statement, Sanrio said it had received feedback from various quarters regarding the collaborative merchandise with the show, which it deemed inconsistent with its corporate philosophy.
The company stated, 'We have decided to cease this collaboration, as well as all subsequent projects and promotional campaigns.'
The controversy stems from the latest season of VIVANT, which depicts a fictional Chinese intelligence agency capturing and torturing some of the Japanese spies.
Chinese state media criticized the show for its portrayal of Chinese agents using 'ruthless violence' to torture members of a secret unit of Japan's self-defense forces, calling it a 'deliberate smear' against Beijing.
Masamine Ryuho, the president of Vivant's TV network TBS, defended the show, saying it was completely fictional and had no intentions of 'disparaging any particular country.'
Sanrio's decision comes amid heightened tensions between China and Japan, with China urging its citizens not to travel to Japan and throttling exports of rare earths to the country.
The backlash against Sanrio follows a similar incident involving French footballer Kylian Mbappé, who was dropped by several Chinese brands after jokingly referring to Mao Zedong as a 'dictator.'
Sanrio said it will strengthen its review processes for future collaborations to ensure they align with its corporate philosophy of fostering harmony among all people.
The company's revenue from the Chinese market has been growing, with 781 million yuan ($117 million) in revenue reported for the first half of this year, up more than 40% from the same period last year.
What's confirmed
- In a statement, Sanrio said it had received feedback from various quarters regarding the collaborative merchandise with the show, which it deemed inconsistent with its corporate philosophy.
- The controversy stems from the latest season of VIVANT, which depicts a fictional Chinese intelligence agency capturing and torturing some of the Japanese spies.
- Chinese state media criticized the show for its portrayal of Chinese agents using 'ruthless violence' to torture members of a secret unit of Japan's self-defense forces, calling it a 'deliberate smear' against Beijing.
- Sanrio's decision comes amid heightened tensions between China and Japan, with China urging its citizens not to travel to Japan and throttling exports of rare earths to the country.
- Sanrio said it will strengthen its review processes for future collaborations to ensure they align with its corporate philosophy of fostering harmony among all people.
- The company's revenue from the Chinese market has been growing, with 781 million yuan ($117 million) in revenue reported for the first half of this year, up more than 40% from the same period last year.
What's still developing
- It comes just days after Chinese sponsors dropped football superstar Kylian Mbappe over comments calling communist leader Mao Zedong a "dictator", which the Real Madrid forward later apologised for.
- "This should raise alarm amongst the international community and enlightened individuals within Japan."
- "My comment was ill-judged and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world."
- In a clip of a video interview with French show "The Bridge" -- since taken down -- Mbappe talked about being amused by an internet meme of his face photoshopped onto "some guy, think he's a Chinese dictator".
- The series reflects the "anti-China narrative of the current conservative Japanese right-wing administration, catering to the trend of right-wing extremism in Japanese society", it said.
- "We sincerely apologise for any concern this may have caused." The project "contains expressions that are inconsistent with the Sanrio Group's corporate philosophy", it said.
- Chinese state outlets, including CCTV, argued that these tactics "highly overlap" with those historically used by Japanese troops against the Chinese, and that the drama "distorts the truth".
- Sanrio "stands to lose far more than short-term sales" by collaborating with "anti-China content", the Global Times article said.
- "Since its inception, Sanrio has consistently used its characters to convey values such as care and connection, and remains committed to its corporate philosophy of fostering harmony among all people," Sanrio said in the statement late on Wednesday.
- When asked about Sanrio's scrapped partnership with Vivant on Thursday, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said the incident should "serve as a warning to the international community and discerning people in Japan".
- The criticism has extended to the internationally beloved Hello Kitty and her friends, including My Melody and Cinnamoroll, who were featured in merchandise dressed as characters from the show.
- The hit show VIVANT, produced by Japanese broadcaster TBS and also available on Netflix, centers on Japanese spies and a terrorist organization called Tent.