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Japanese airline ANA apologises for ‘racist’ advert stereotyping foreigners as having big noses and blonde hair | Japanese airline ANA apologises for ‘racist’ advert stereotyping foreigners as having big noses and blonde hair |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A Japanese airline has apologised after it received complaints for a “racist and offensive” advert which appears to suggest it is changing its image through racial stereotyping. | A Japanese airline has apologised after it received complaints for a “racist and offensive” advert which appears to suggest it is changing its image through racial stereotyping. |
The 30-second commercial for All Nippon Airways (ANA) was designed to promote its expanded offering of international flights from Tokyo’s Haneda airport, and first aired on Saturday. | The 30-second commercial for All Nippon Airways (ANA) was designed to promote its expanded offering of international flights from Tokyo’s Haneda airport, and first aired on Saturday. |
It shows two men in ANA uniforms discussing how “exciting” it is that the airline now offers services to Vancouver and Hanoi. | It shows two men in ANA uniforms discussing how “exciting” it is that the airline now offers services to Vancouver and Hanoi. |
When one of the men refuses a hug to celebrate, the other describes it as “such a Japanese reaction” and says: “Let’s change the image of Japanese people.” | When one of the men refuses a hug to celebrate, the other describes it as “such a Japanese reaction” and says: “Let’s change the image of Japanese people.” |
The other man says “sure” while putting on an accent – and is suddenly seen wearing a blonde wig and exaggerated fake nose. | The other man says “sure” while putting on an accent – and is suddenly seen wearing a blonde wig and exaggerated fake nose. |
The advert has been met with anger on the airline’s English-language social media pages. Facebook user Dave Jenkins wrote: “Your latest commercial is racist and offensive. I'd like to cancel my mileage club membership.” | The advert has been met with anger on the airline’s English-language social media pages. Facebook user Dave Jenkins wrote: “Your latest commercial is racist and offensive. I'd like to cancel my mileage club membership.” |
Vicky Kirk Kobayashi asked when the “horrible, horrible advert” would be cancelled and criticised ANA for deciding to “go for the old tired big nose blonde gaijin gag”. | Vicky Kirk Kobayashi asked when the “horrible, horrible advert” would be cancelled and criticised ANA for deciding to “go for the old tired big nose blonde gaijin gag”. |
Laura Macfarlane said: “Why would one of Japan's premier airlines be willing to run an advertisement considered by many to be racist and offensive to westerners, and risk alienating a large percentage of its customers?” | Laura Macfarlane said: “Why would one of Japan's premier airlines be willing to run an advertisement considered by many to be racist and offensive to westerners, and risk alienating a large percentage of its customers?” |
An ANA spokesperson said the airline had “received calls from customers, mostly foreigners, complaining about the ad”. | An ANA spokesperson said the airline had “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 the AFP news agency. | “We apologised to each of the customers for having caused uncomfortable feelings and also thanked them for bringing up the issue,” she told the AFP news agency. |
“We have passed on the issue to the section in charge of the advertisement, but as of now we have yet to decide how to deal with the commercial,” she said. | “We have passed on the issue to the section in charge of the advertisement, but as of now we have yet to decide how to deal with the commercial,” she said. |
The ANA | |
spokesperson added “The commercial was intended to be a humorous way of | |
highlighting the increased number of international services ANA is operating | |
from Haneda Airport. It was not our intention to cause offence and we apologize | |
to anyone who was upset by the advertisement.” | |
Blogger and writer Arudou Debito criticised the advert as being the latest example of Japan’s “nasty habit of racialising commodities”. | Blogger and writer Arudou Debito criticised the advert as being the latest example of Japan’s “nasty habit of racialising commodities”. |
“They once again just thought they were being cute by sticking a wig and a big nose on somebody and making them look ‘foreign’,” Mr Debito said. | “They once again just thought they were being cute by sticking a wig and a big nose on somebody and making them look ‘foreign’,” Mr Debito said. |