Posted on 01/21/2014 2:41:36 PM PST by nickcarraway
Ad causes stir among English-language social media users
Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) said Monday it was modifying a TV commercial after apologising to customers who complained it used racist stereotyping, but insisted they had meant no offence.
ANA started airing the new 30-second television advertisement on Saturday, aimed at promoting its beefed up schedule of international flights from Tokyo's Haneda airport in March.
In the commercial, two Japanese men in ANA uniform discuss in English how they might boost the image of the airline as an international carrier.
One of them says: "Let's change the image of Japanese people." "Sure," replies the other, who is now wearing a blonde wig and an improbably long rubber nose.
White westerners are often believed in Japan to have big noses, blue eyes and blonde hair, characteristics generally thought desirable among Japanese.
The ad caused a stir among English-language users of social media in Japan.
"I've just seen the new ANA advert... Really? ANA think this is OK?!" Angela Fukutome said in a message posted on ANA's Facebook page.
"If you are a foreigner and have planned to come to #Japan do not choose an openly racist airline like #ANA! Watch their Japanese commercial," tweeted @sibylleito on Twitter.
ANA spokesman Ryosei Nomura said the carrier wanted to express the importance of the planned expansion of international services from Haneda and to call on Japanese to go out to see the world.
"But we have received opinions different from the message that we wished to convey. We will modify part of the advertisement and will release the second version soon," he said.
The original TV spot was initially aired for Saturday through Monday and has now been pulled for now, he said.
Earlier, an ANA spokeswoman acknowledged the carrier "has received calls from customers, mostly foreigners, complaining about the ad."
"We apologised to each of the customers for having caused uncomfortable feelings and also thanked them for bringing up the issue," she told AFP.
Japan is largely racially homogenous, with relatively small immigrant communities.
Ah so. Vely funny. Vely funny.
That looks just like Bill Clinton!
Ha, same here.
Stupid reactionary libs like to whine for the sake of whining. Japanese TV shows have been, and continue to do this same thing for decades when depicting stereotypical white characters in comedy shows. I’ll be happy to fly ANA anytime.
Don’t you mean “Beel Cwentin”?
If someone is hyper sensitive about racism, they would not even consider going to Japan, as they are amongst the most racist people in the world. They are just so polite about it (usually) that most people do not notice.
I think they have the long noses mixed up with other parts of American anatomy that are considerably longer than what the Japanese have.
Koreans love pale skin, by the way
[Some of our hypersensitive morons have obviously made their way to Japan.]
You are so right. I taught English with some of them in the Kansai area. That was in the late 60’s and they were the first batch of hippy indoctrinated, humorless, intolerant, and bigoted people I have ever had the misfortune of knowing. Their getting together outside of work was nothing but bitch sessions......strange thing is many wanted to stay in Japan.
Oh, that's just fine in Japan [and I find nothing wrong with that]. This is a sort of double-blind racism. The airline is being criticized for making fun of the Japanese penchant for imitating the West.
"How DARE you stereotype a culture with positive imagery and desirable traits!!! SHAAAAAME on you!!!!"
Really really tired of the victimology-first, knee-jerk-offended crowd. They are really just about control and getting rich by playing the sanctimonious race (or culture) card.
“Luckily you have a cool, Black, Rhodes Scholar friend to keep you hip. You also have a woman that is awesome at everything possible.”
And there’s your White Privilege right there, baby!
Can’t be British.
You take a look at those chops?
No way you get that kind of dental care in England.
That’s Quinten.
Wascist
Dude !!!
Why do you think the good Prince chose her?
She’s a gift from our Lord and Savior.
Her sister is obviously a spawn from another god and I find her hotter.
Both are totally hittable
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Amen bro!
“If someone is hyper sensitive about racism, they would not even consider going to Japan, as they are amongst the most racist people in the world. They are just so polite about it (usually) that most people do not notice.”
Ironically, this is one of the things I like about Asia, they don’t have a guilt complex and hypersensitivity about race. They just say it like it is, whether you’re a gaijin or someone else. They do, however, each think that their own culture is superior to all other cultures, including all other Asian cultures. Which is also ok with me, but makes for some interesting dynamics.
One thing you do learn very quickly is the Japanese hate the Koreans (think they are inferior), and the Koreans hate the Japanese (for what the Japanese did to them when they were occupied from 1910-1945). The funny thing is most anthropologists think the Japanese originated from the Korean peninsula.
The other interesting thing is the Koreans in particular are on a cultural, technological and economic upswing and see themselves overtaking a lot of the decadent west, especially the U.S. You can see it in their attitude—basically, what does it take to get it done, vs. the U.S. which is pretty much completely dominated by folks telling you you can’t do anything.
What is lurking in the Japanese and Korean cultures, however, is their abysmal birthrate, resulting in an aging population and big problems in the future, according to a lot of folks. Encouragement by their governments to have babies is having zero effect, apparently.
Come on! Somebody Photoshop Godzilla with a blonde wig and a big fake nose.
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