Santos racist ads

[Zola]

http://www.japanprobe.com/2011/08/08/brazilian-soccer-team-uses-slanty-eyes-photo-to-advertise-japan-match/

Oh dear

[Hutch]

“…the Marca reporter in the clip above never even discusses the casual racism contained within the ad. He simply says the four guys in the picture are getting psychologically prepared for the tournament in Japan, calls Neymar the face of the club (some face!) and talks about Real Madrid’s efforts in trying to woo the Brazilian striker. “

Something of an over-reaction I feel. Are Japanese people really likely to be offended or is this yet another case of someone somewhere (in this case Hypervocal) getting offended on someone else's behalf?

[Barn]

Is it racist or does it refer in a complementary way about a feature almost exclusive to the Japanese? I don't understand what the bloke is saying in the ad and I'm not Japanese so I don't know the answer to that, bit I don't think it has to be racist to comment on a feature of a nation.

[Zola]

The photo itself is a bit silly, if you did that to an Asian person in the street I don't think they'd like it.

I wonder who's bright idea that was :D

[Snedger]

Not sure exactly if it is racist but it is definitely unecessary. I would have thought wearing kimonos or waving round samurai swords or posing with a huge display of sushi would have got the message across.

I wonder if the tournament was being held in Africa if they would have blacked their faces up and puffed up their lips?

I certainly can't imagine this eye thing being used by us or Barcelona in an advertising campaign.

Maybe next time Japan plays in Brazil they can do an advertising campaign that features Keisuke Honda in a police uniform executing street children?

[njegos]

Brazil has the worlds largest Japanese community outside of Japan. What we consider racist in one culture may not be racist in another. The Jap diaspora in Brazil is incredibley respected and are just as Brazilian as any other Brazilians beacuse Brazil is a migrant country (Mixture of Europeans, Africans, Asians and Local indegenous peoples) where 50% of the population is of mixed ethnicity. Why is it racist to make your eyes look like that? Theyre not saying Asian people are less human or commiting hate speech........theyre just shaping their eyes to look Asian. Because guess why? Asian people actually do have eyes like that. Its not tabboo....Its fact.

If I grow a moustache am i commiting cultural genocide against the Italians? If i die my hair red am i against Scottish/Irish people?

Political Correctness gone mad ffs