Sanrio ends partnership with “Vivant” after criticism in China
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on L’essentiel
Sanrio’s Chinese subsidiary has apologised and ended its collaboration with the Japanese series “Vivant”, as well as related promotional campaigns and projects. The decision follows criticism in China over an episode depicting an organisation linked to the country torturing a member of a Japanese espionage unit, AFP reports.
Sanrio, the Japanese company that owns the Hello Kitty licence, has ended its partnership with the espionage television series “Vivant” after criticism in China. Its Chinese subsidiary announced on Weibo on Thursday 29 October that it was ending the collaboration, related projects and promotional campaigns, and apologised for the concerns caused.
The controversy centres in part on an episode in which an organisation linked to China is shown torturing a member of an unofficial Japanese military espionage unit. Chinese internet users accused the series of distorting history. State media outlet Global Times called it “notorious for its attacks on China”.
Japanese commercial broadcaster TBS, which produced “Vivant”, had not responded to AFP’s questions. Its president told Japanese media that the series was fiction and that the broadcaster supported neither conflict between nations nor the use of violence.
