Hello Kitty maker ends TV drama tie-up after China backlash

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 29 Oct, 06:57 · Archive

Sanrio has ended its merchandise collaboration with Japanese spy thriller Vivant after Chinese criticism of the show's portrayal of torture.

Sanrio, the company behind Hello Kitty, has ended its merchandise collaboration with Japanese spy thriller Vivant following criticism from China. The show has been widely slammed in Chinese state media and by social media users for its depiction of Chinese agents using brutal torture tactics on a Japanese operative. Sanrio's characters, including Hello Kitty, My Melody and Cinnamoroll, were featured in merchandise dressed as characters from the show.

Sanrio said it terminated the collaboration after determining that it 'contained elements inconsistent with Sanrio's core values'. The company stated: 'Since its inception, Sanrio has consistently used its characters to convey values such as care and connection, and remains committed to its corporate philosophy of fostering harmony among all people.'

The backlash reflects wider tensions between China and Japan. State-run Global Times criticised Sanrio on Wednesday, saying the Hello Kitty character 'should not dance with Japan's right wing'. China-Japan relations have deteriorated significantly since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made comments on Taiwan last November that triggered diplomatic friction.

How it is being reported

• Sanrio ends ‘Vivant’ collaboration after protest by China’s state mediaA commentary in China's Global Times has accused the hit TBS drama series of vilifying the country.The Japan Times · 29 Oct, 07:42
• Hello Kitty company cuts ties with Japanese spy show after China outcrySanrio ends association with Netflix TV drama Vivant after Chinese state media decried portrayal of ruthless Chinese agents as a ‘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 their country. 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 Netflix TV drama Vivant after concluding…Guardian Business · 29 Oct, 06:38
• Sanrio’s China subsidiary ends ‘Vivant’ collaboration after state media protestA commentary in China's Global Times has accused the hit TBS drama series of vilifying the country.The Japan Times · 29 Oct, 04:57
• Hello Kitty maker ends collab with Japanese spy drama after backlash in ChinaSanrio has apologised after its merchandise line with Japanese TV series Vivant drew heated backlash in China.BBC News · 29 Oct, 03:16

In this story: Sanrio · Hello Kitty · Vivant · China · Japan · Global Times · Sanae Takaichi

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log