All Nippon Airways has pulled a television commercial in Japan advertising new flights after receiving comments that it was inappropriate.
The carrier stopped airing the spot on national television and will make a new advert after receiving “various comments,” a spokesman for the airline confirmed.
The advert showed two Japanese men talking in English about the start of new ANA flights from Tokyo’s Haneda airport, and one of them dons a blond wig and fake nose after the other suggests changing Japanese people’s image.
ANA’s official Facebook page received postings saying the advertisement was offensive when it started running on national TV on January 18, Bloomberg reported.
White westerners are often characterised in Japan as having big noses, blue eyes and blonde hair.
“The commercial was intended to be a humorous way of highlighting the increased number of international services ANA is operating from Haneda airport,” the airline said.
“It was not our intention to cause offense and we apologise to anyone who was upset by the advertisement.”
ANA is starting new flights to London, Paris, Vancouver, Hanoi and other cities from March 30 after receiving more international take off and landing slots at Haneda airport.