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Japanese Airline Sorry Over 'Racist' Commercial
Emirates 24/7 ^ | Tuesday, January 21, 2014

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.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Travel; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: japan; japanad
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1 posted on 01/21/2014 2:41:36 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Is that a token American? Not bad.


2 posted on 01/21/2014 2:42:50 PM PST by Yaelle
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To: nickcarraway

Isn’t OK to make fun of white people?


3 posted on 01/21/2014 2:43:06 PM PST by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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Someone, please explain the ‘racism’.


4 posted on 01/21/2014 2:44:12 PM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: nickcarraway

5 posted on 01/21/2014 2:44:28 PM PST by EEGator
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To: nickcarraway

I’m not offended.

There must be something wrong with me.


6 posted on 01/21/2014 2:44:35 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: nickcarraway

Some of our hypersensitive morons have obviously made their way to Japan.


7 posted on 01/21/2014 2:45:02 PM PST by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.)
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To: nickcarraway
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.

That's it? I laughed when I read that and kept looking for the racist part. I was expecting some smelly gaijin comment.

8 posted on 01/21/2014 2:45:28 PM PST by KarlInOhio (Republican amnesty supporters don't care whether their own homes are called mansions or haciendas.)
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To: nickcarraway

White westerners are often believed in Japan to have big noses, blue eyes and blonde hair, characteristics generally thought desirable among Japanese.

This whole sentence is hillarious!


9 posted on 01/21/2014 2:46:20 PM PST by GraceG
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To: Yaelle
Looks British to me.

10 posted on 01/21/2014 2:47:16 PM PST by BitWielder1 (Corporate Profits are better than Government Waste)
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To: 2banana

I’m not offended.


11 posted on 01/21/2014 2:47:42 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

That’s actual funny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCjxzpSrFP4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I don’t see the problem and the majority of dissenters have Asian names.

It’s their hang up, not mine.


12 posted on 01/21/2014 2:47:49 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: BenLurkin

If you’re a White male, then according to TV, you’re fat and stupid. Luckily you have a cool, Black, Rhodes Scholar friend to keep you hip. You also have a woman that is awesome at everything possible.


13 posted on 01/21/2014 2:48:46 PM PST by EEGator
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To: nickcarraway

Looks like Bill Clinton with an appropriate pinochio nose.


14 posted on 01/21/2014 2:49:32 PM PST by autumnraine
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To: nickcarraway

Ask grandpa if the American marine coming at him with a flamethrower looked like that.


15 posted on 01/21/2014 2:49:49 PM PST by Dr. Ursus
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To: Vendome

My guess is the dissenters most horrified and frantic with worry are aged 30 or less. They may have been brought up with full indoctrination on what is or is not politically correct. I, in turn do not get upset when schools have Gang Day and dress accordingly. It’s just for fun. We can still be light sometimes, I would hope.


16 posted on 01/21/2014 2:52:12 PM PST by lee martell
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To: EEGator
You also have a woman that is awesome at everything possible.

I wish.

17 posted on 01/21/2014 2:52:44 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: nickcarraway

Poor Japanese. When they stereotype American blacks they get in trouble. When they stereotype American whites they get in trouble.

Maybe they should try American Indians next.


18 posted on 01/21/2014 2:52:53 PM PST by ZULU (Magua is sitting in the Oval Office. Ted Cruz/Phil Robertson in 2016.)
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To: Yaelle

The long tone and hairstyle leads me to believe it’s an MSM anchor.


19 posted on 01/21/2014 2:55:38 PM PST by Maceman
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To: nickcarraway

People find those different from them curious and sometimes funny looking. So what.


20 posted on 01/21/2014 2:58:19 PM PST by skeeter
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