Hello Kitty cuts ties with hit Japanese spy drama Vivant over torture scenes
Goodbye Kitty. Vivant has emerged as a major hit on Japanese TV to a degree that only seems to come along every decade or so. It stars Masato Sakai, who also starred in Japan’s last gigantic TV hit Hanzawa Naoki, by the same director, with Sakai this time playing a businessman who gets embroiled in […]
Sanrio, the Japanese designer and toy company known for its Hello Kitty brand, has severed ties with the popular spy drama Vivant over controversial scenes featuring torture. The decision comes after Sanrio's Chinese arm announced the cancellation of the collaboration on October 28, with the company expressing regret for any discomfort caused and citing inconsistencies with Sanrio's corporate philosophy.
The dispute stems from Vivant's portrayal of fictional Chinese operatives brutally torturing Japanese spies, which has sparked criticism both within China and internationally. Sanrio's online comments reflect a mix of confusion and disappointment, with some questioning the brand's decision to associate with such explicit and controversial content.
Vivant's network, TBS, has stated that they will carefully consider the potential discomfort caused by future violent depictions in the show.
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