|
|
Post by Admin on Dec 8, 2020 22:09:12 GMT
 Nike is facing a backlash in Japan over an advert which highlights racial discrimination in the country. The video shows the "real life experience" of three young soccer players from mixed heritage.  It has about 25 million views on social media and almost 80,000 shares. But it has sparked fierce debate as Japan is unaccustomed to openly discussing sensitive issues such as race, with some questioning whether a foreign brand should have waded in. Nike Japan said the ad highlights how people "overcome their daily struggles and conflicts to move their future through sports". But some comments on social media said Nike was exaggerating the scale of discrimination, arguing that it was unfair to single out Japan. Other users threatened to boycott Nike products. One comment said: "It's as if they are trying to say this kind of discrimination is everywhere in Japan." However, there were also positive comments about the ad, entitled The Future Isn't Waiting, for highlighting the issue of racism. |
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Dec 9, 2020 5:00:51 GMT
 A video advertisement from Nike Japan against bullying and racism that features biracial athletes and other minorities, such as those of Korean descent, has prompted a sharp online response including calls to boycott the company. The commercial, Keep Moving: Yourself, the Future, released on November 30, shows several teenage girls bullied in school over their race or other differences, but who ultimately find confidence through their prowess in football. One scene features a girl whose father is Black surrounded by fellow students, squealing and pulling her hair. Japan has traditionally prided itself on being racially homogeneous, although successful mixed-race athletes such as tennis star Naomi Osaka are challenging that image. The video, viewed 14.1 million times on Nike Japan’s Twitter feed 04:00 GMT on Wednesday, had racked up nearly 64,000 likes but also a cascade of critical comments from many who promised never to buy Nike products again. “Nowadays, you often see one or two people of different nationalities going to school perfectly peacefully. The one that’s prejudiced is Nike,” wrote one user named “hira1216”. Japanese sports fans have celebrated Osaka, who counts Nike as a sponsor and makes a cameo appearance in the advertisement. But she was once depicted as a cartoon character by another sponsor, Nissin, with pale skin and light brown hair, while a comedy duo said she “needed some bleach”. |
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Dec 15, 2020 6:03:39 GMT
Ever since their 1988 “Just Do It” ad, sports brand Nike has become known for producing commercials that spark a conversation and leave a lasting impression on viewers. Last year, they got the conversation going around all the annoying questions tennis star Naomi Osaka has to deal with surrounding her ethnicity, and now they’re back to tackle another tough subject: the experience of young foreign residents in Japan.  The new commercial is called “Ugokashitsuzukeru. Jibun wo. Shorai wo. The future Isn’t Waiting“, with the Japanese part translating to “Keep Moving. Yourself. The future.” Featuring stories based on “the real-life experience of athletes”, this clip shows three soccer girls from different backgrounds in Japan — one is Japanese, one is Korean, and one is, like Osaka, mixed race, with a Black father and Japanese mother — and reveals how they “overcome their daily struggles and conflicts to move their future through sports.” The commercial has English subtitles available, so click the white gear button next to the CC in the bottom right corner to turn them on, and take a look at the clip below. The two-minute video is a moving look at what it can be like to be a young girl into soccer in Japan. The Japanese girl is bullied at school and struggles to meet her parents’ expectations to excel at schoolwork, with her questioning, “Am I good enough?” |
|
