Hello Kitty company cuts ties with Japanese spy show after China outcry
Summary
Sanrio apologized and ended its commercial partnership with the Japanese spy drama Vivant after Chinese state media and social media users criticized its depiction of Chinese agents torturing Japanese intelligence officers. Sanrio said the show conflicted with its values and that it would strengthen reviews of future partnerships. The dispute comes as relations between China and Japan are strained and Sanrio relies on China as a major overseas market.Key Facts
- Sanrio announced the end of its association with Vivant in a post on Weibo.
- The drama is produced by Japan’s TBS network and stars Masato Sakai.
- In an episode aired on 4 October, a Chinese agent cuts off a Japanese officer’s fingers and stabs him in the abdomen.
- Chinese state media said the torture scenes smeared China and resembled abuses committed by Japanese troops during the Second World War.
- Sanrio said the show contained elements inconsistent with its core values and pledged to strengthen reviews of future collaborative projects.
- Sanrio characters My Melody and Cinnamoroll appeared in Vivant-themed merchandise.
- Chinese media reported that Sanrio earned 781 million yuan, or $117 million, in China during the first half of the year, up more than 40% from the same period a year earlier.
- The article links the backlash to strained China-Japan relations, including a diplomatic dispute over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments about a possible Chinese attack on Taiwan.
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