ISTANBUL, Oct 30 — Sanrio, the maker of the famous cartoon character Hello Kitty, apologised yesterday for its collaboration with the Japanese spy drama Vivant following backlash from Chinese media, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
The content of this collaboration includes expressions that are “inconsistent” with Sanrio’s corporate philosophy, a statement said, adding that the company has decided to cease all related activities, future developments and promotional activities.
Sanrio has cherished values such as “compassion” and “connection” through its characters since its founding, it said.
The TBS-produced Japanese spy drama centres on a fictional, unofficial intelligence unit of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces that operates overseas.
