Sanrio ends partnership with Japanese TV spy show following backlash from China
Sanrio ended its collaboration with the Japanese spy drama Vivant, citing content that contradicts its corporate values. The show depicts torture and shows fictional Chinese agents torturing Japanese spies, drawing criticism from Chinese state media and social media users. Sanrio's Chinese subsidiary apologized on Weibo, and the company reported revenue from China in the first half of the year.
- Sanrio announced the end of its collaboration with the drama VIVANT.
- Sanrio stated the collaboration contained expressions inconsistent with its corporate philosophy.
- Sanrio, the owner of Hello Kitty, apologized for its collaboration with a Japanese spy drama.
- The Global Times called the show notorious for smearing China.
- Sanrio reported revenue from the Chinese market in the first half of this year.
- Tensions are strained between Beijing and Tokyo over Taiwan.
- Kylian Mbappé faced a boycott after referring to Mao Zedong as a Chinese dictator.
- The latest season of Vivant shows fictional Chinese agents torturing Japanese spies.
Outlets: 15min, Asahi Shimbun (Headlines), BBC Japanese, BBC News, Business Recorder, China Labour Bulletin, Club of Mozambique, Corriere della Sera, DW Chinese, Delo, El Mundo (Portada), Free Malaysia Today, Hespress English, LRT (Lithuanian), La Stampa, Libération, Mainichi Shimbun (Flash), N1 BiH, RTL Today, SCMP China, The Express Tribune, The Guardian, The Japan Times, g1
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