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Summary of article:
The Japanese drama VIVANT was criticized for showing atrocities by China’s secret intelligence organization and insulting China. The president of TBS responded that he did not intend to be hostile towards any country, but he also acknowledged that the way it was presented was worthy of review. Partner Sanrio has canceled the collaboration and apologized.
Japan The spy drama “Vivant”, broadcast on TBS TV station, featured a plot of “China’s secret intelligence organization tortured the Japanese” and was criticized for “insulting China, defaming China, and exaggerating the China threat theory.” Cartoon brand Sanrio, which collaborated on the drama and launched co-branded products, also said it canceled the cooperation and apologized. Japanese media reported that Long Baozhengfeng, president of TBS TV station, said he had no intention of antagonizing or belittling any specific country.
Kyodo News reported on the 29th that Long Baozhengfeng emphasized that this is a completely fictional entertainment work. He also said that TBS’s position is not to incite confrontation between countries, nor to resort to force or violence, and “does not send messages that will hurt people’s sentiments.”
As for the plot of “China’s secret intelligence organization tortured the Japanese” in the play, Long Baozhengfeng explained that it was “made on the premise that performance is necessary”, but he also mentioned, “Whether such a way of expression will make the audience feel dissatisfied or scared is a matter of serious discussion.”
“Vivant” is a TV series produced by TBS. The first season will be broadcast from July to September 2023, and the second season will be broadcast from July. The protagonist is established as an intelligence officer of “Separate Class”, an informal organization of self-defense forces, and tells the story of how he infiltrates a terrorist organization and carries out missions around the world. It stars well-known actors Sakai Masato, Abe Hiroshi, Ninomiya Kazuya, Matsuzaka Torii, Nikaido Fumi, etc., and has attracted much attention in Japan.
The Beijing News website reported that the drama sets up a “backward” “Chinese secret organization” to be compared with Japan’s advanced intelligence agency; In addition, the play also designs Chinese intelligence personnel to cut off the fingers and pierce the stomach of Japanese intelligence personnel. These methods are highly consistent with the torture used by the Japanese invaders against Chinese anti-Japanese comrades.
A few days ago, China Central Broadcasting Station’s “International News Immediate Commentary” stated that “Vivant” “whitewashes” the atrocities committed by the Japanese army, treats China as an imaginary enemy, confuses right and wrong, and tarnishes the image of the Chinese people. The Global Times, a Chinese media outlet, also criticized the plot for “opposing right and wrong, presenting atrocities once inflicted on the Chinese people by Japanese invaders into Chinese characters, and exaggerating the Chinese threat and falsely plotting to embellish Japanese intelligence operations.”
Summary FAQ
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Since the Chinese secret intelligence organization in the play tortured Japanese people such as cutting off their fingers and stabbing them in the stomach, it was considered slandering China and exaggerating the China threat theory. The storyline was highly similar to the atrocities committed by the Japanese invaders, so it caused a strong reaction.
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President Long Baozhengfeng said that the play is a completely fictional entertainment work. TBS does not intend to antagonize or belittle any specific country, nor does it encourage national confrontation or violence; But he also acknowledged that whether the relevant expression methods will dissatisfied or frighten the audience is indeed worthy of review.
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Sanrio, which had cooperated with VIVANT to launch joint products, was also affected and eventually announced the cancellation of the cooperation and issued a public apology, revealing that the controversy had spread from the series itself to the level of business cooperation and brand image.
