Hello Kitty maker Sanrio cuts ties with TV spy show after China backlash
Sanrio said the project clashed with its corporate philosophy and will end all related merchandise and promotions after backlash over the drama's China portrayal.
- On Wednesday, Sanrio terminated its collaboration with the Japanese television drama Vivant after the series faced intense public backlash in China over its content.
- Chinese state broadcaster CCTV accused the spy thriller of "deliberately smearing" Beijing by depicting Chinese intelligence agents torturing Japanese operatives in scenes critics interpreted as distorting wartime history.
- China accounts for about 40% of Sanrio's overseas sales and roughly a quarter of operating profit, with the company booking 9.8 billion yen in Chinese revenue during the first quarter, up 25% year-over-year.
- Sanrio pledged to strengthen review procedures for future projects, while TBS President Masamine Ryuho defended the drama as "entirely fictional and has no intention of disparaging any specific country" at Wednesday's press conference.
- Tensions between China and Japan have remained elevated since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response; the incident echoes recent backlash against footballer Kylian Mbappe.
95 Articles
95 Articles
In the second season of "Vivant" the bad guys are Chinese spies, and this has provoked strong criticism
The company that produces the famous cardboard ends up at the center of tensions between China and Japan
Hello Kitty's spy drama lands in hot water: What went wrong with Sanrio in China
Sanrio has come under fire in China for its collaboration with the Japanese drama VIVANT, which many viewers found offensive. The show's depiction of a fictional Chinese intelligence agency apprehending Japanese spies has ignited fierce online backlash. In response to the criticism from the public and state media, Sanrio's Chinese branch announced it would end the partnership, highlighting the hurdles international companies endure due to ongoin…
Hello Kitty Owner Cancels Tie-Up With Japanese TV Show After Plotline Offends CCP
Sanrio, the company that makes Hello Kitty merchandise, has canceled a collaboration with a hit Japanese TV show after it sparked a backlash in China. “Vivant,” produced by Japanese broadcaster TBS and also available on Netflix, is based around the actions of Japanese spies and a terrorist organization called Tent. But the latest season includes a plotline in which some of the show’s stars are captured and tortured by a fictional Chinese intelli…
Torture scenes in a Japanese television series have angered China. Now the uproar is spreading to Hello Kitty.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
