Sanrio, the Japanese company behind Hello Kitty, has apologised and withdrawn its merchandise collaboration with the television drama Vivant following criticism in China over the show’s portrayal of the country.
The partnership featured Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters in merchandise inspired by the Japanese spy series.
However, the drama’s second season includes a storyline about a Chinese-affiliated organisation accused of torturing a member of an unofficial Japanese military intelligence unit.
Sanrio said it had received feedback about the collaboration and regretted the concerns it had caused.
The company also stated that elements of the project conflicted with its corporate philosophy and cancelled related promotional activities.
China’s state-run Global Times criticised Vivant, accusing it of presenting an anti-China narrative. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun also raised concerns on Thursday, arguing that certain cultural productions in Japan continue to portray China negatively.
The controversy comes amid strained relations between Japan and China over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks about possible military intervention in a Taiwan conflict.
Separately, French footballer Kylian Mbappe recently apologised after remarks in a video interview were perceived as mocking former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. He acknowledged that his comments were inappropriate and had hurt people in China and Chinese communities worldwide.
