Japanese Hello Kitty Firm Ends TV Tie-Up After Chinese Criticism
Sanrio apologised and ended its commercial tie-up with the Japanese TV drama Vivant after Chinese state media and netizens condemned the show. For sovereignty-minded readers, it is a reminder of how external criticism can land on a national brand.
Sanrio, the Japanese company behind the Hello Kitty franchise, apologised and ended its commercial tie-up with the Japanese TV drama Vivant. Its merchandise line with the series had drawn criticism, and Chinese state media and netizens condemned the show's “deliberate smears” against China.
China said the show's portrayal of ruthless Chinese agents is a “deliberate smear.” For many nationalist-minded voters, the episode shows how a cultural product can become a target when a foreign media chorus joins in.
Sanrio said in a post on the Chinese social media site Weibo that it had decided to end its association with the TV drama Vivant after concluding that it “contained elements inconsistent with…”
Sanrio's characters are popular around the world, and critics of open-ended foreign entanglements will see this as a warning about protecting a national brand's independence.
Original reporting
BBC News
Hello Kitty maker cuts ties with Japanese spy drama after China backlash
Sanrio has apologised after its merchandise line with Japanese TV series Vivant drew criticism.
Read the original →The Guardian
Hello Kitty company cuts ties with Japanese spy show after China outcry
Sanrio ends association with TV drama Vivant after China says portrayal of ruthless Chinese agents is ‘deliberate smear’ The company behind the successful Hello Kitty franchise has apologised and ended its commercial tie-up with a Japanese TV drama after Chinese state media and netizens condemned the show’s “deliberate smears” against China. Sanrio, a Japanese firm whose characters are popular around the world, said in a post on the Chinese social media site Weibo that it had decided to end its association with the TV drama Vivant after concluding that it “contained elements inconsistent with…
Read the original →
Facts this version was allowed to use
- Sanrio is the Japanese company behind the Hello Kitty franchise.
- Sanrio apologised and ended its commercial tie-up with the Japanese TV drama Vivant.
- Vivant is a Japanese TV series.
- Sanrio's merchandise line with the Japanese TV series Vivant drew criticism.
- Chinese state media and netizens condemned the show's "deliberate smears" against China.
- China said the show's portrayal of ruthless Chinese agents is a "deliberate smear".
- Sanrio said in a post on the Chinese social media site Weibo that it had decided to end its association with the TV drama Vivant after concluding that it "contained elements inconsistent with…"
- Sanrio posted on the Chinese social media site Weibo.
- Sanrio's characters are popular around the world.
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