JAPAN: Japan lodges complaint against French Fukushima joke.

Record ID: 215982

  • Title: JAPAN: Japan lodges complaint against French Fukushima joke.
  • Date: 16th October 2012
  • Summary: WROCLAW, POLAND (OCTOBER 15, 2012) (REUTERS) JAPANESE AND BRAZILIAN FLAGS IN STADIUM AHEAD OF JAPAN VERSUS BRAZIL FRIENDLY SOCCER MATCH VARIOUS OF JAPANESE TEAM TRAINING JAPANESE GOALKEEPER EIJI KAWASHIMA DIVING DURING TRAINING SESSION
  • Embargoed: 31st October 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA3L5BL1YPA1GJWP2MHWFJO6BWX
  • Story Text: Japan has lodged an official complaint with broadcaster France 2, after the French national network ran a doctored image showing Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima with four arms, with a reference by the host to a "Fukushima effect."
    The joke, aired on a variety show on October 13, was purportedly aimed at highlighting Kawashima's stellar performance in Japan's upset win over France in a friendly soccer match held on Friday (October 12).
    But local Japanese diplomats were angered after the host attributed his goalkeeping success to the "Fukushima effect".
    "We sent a letter of protest to national broadcaster France 2 from the Japanese embassy in France on the 15th of October," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said on Tuesday (October 16).
    "We have told them we regard these comments as both hurtful to the feelings of those affected by last year's disaster and also harmful to the reconstruction efforts currently underway."
    Japan's victory on Friday was the country's first in six meetings, with Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa scoring the goal to win the match 1-0.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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