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 On August 11, 2022, the comedy duo Tosa Kyodai(土佐兄弟), affiliated with Watanabe Entertainment Co., Ltd.（株式会社ワタナベエンターテインメイント） uploaded a video on their YouTube channel named, "Tosa Kyodai's Youth Channel" (土佐兄弟の青春チャンネル) titled "Yuki's Classmate - Attendance Number 10 Kiryu Morgan Ryota [High School Student Video Summary with Over 1 Billion Views on TikTok [TikTok]. Daily life of high school student Yuki]."

 The thumbnail of the video says "dumb half Japanese"(間抜けなハーフ) and shows the member of Tosa Kyodai, Yuki, wearing a blond wig and drawing a black line on the bridge of the nose to make his nose look taller and more ‘western’. This is the same technique as "blackface" in minstrel shows and should never be tolerated.

 The video ridicules Kiryu Morgan Ryota, a mixed-raced Japanese person with foreign roots, played by Tosa Kyodai Yuki, for his inability to speak English. Many people are ridiculed by those around them for not living up to their expectations due to the self-serving prejudices in Japan that all people with foreign roots can speak English. To gouge out wounds of mixed-raced people for the sake of "laughter" and "views," and to propagate as if the gap and discrimination caused by race is a funny thing, is an act that cannot be overlooked, and at the same time, is not acceptable. This act of racism by Tosa Kyodai and Watanabe Entertainment Co., Ltd. is both unacceptable and inexcusable.

 An influencer with foreign roots (Twitter ID: annaPHd9pj) protested about the video. However, in response to the protest, Tosa Kyodai deleted the video, blocked the protester, and continued to be silent, acting as if such a video never exists.

 Tosa Kyodai boasts over 1.3 million subscribers on TikTok and over 440,000 on YouTube and is a comedy duo with tremendous support and influence among the youth of Japan. We are very upset and concerned that two people with such influence have uploaded a video that ridicules and discriminates against mixed-raced Japanese people.

 In addition, in September 2019, there were racist remarks made against Naomi Osaka by A-Masso(Aマッソ), a comedian who is also affiliated with Watanabe Entertainment. Despite this past, a comedian affiliated with the company made another racist material. We cannot help but question the company's compliance, governance, and attitude toward racism.

 Article 21 of the Japanese Constitution, "freedom of speech" is a right that should be guaranteed to everyone and should be respected as one of the most valuable rights for citizens. However, this freedom must be exercised under ethical standards. It cannot be an excuse to spread and promote ridicule and mockery of a specific ethnic or racial group, congenital, acquired, or any other attribute that is beyond the control of a person.

 Considering the above, we request that Tosa Kyodai and Watanabe Entertainment apologize on their official websites and official social network accounts. We also demand that Tosa Kyodai and Watanabe Entertainment Co., Ltd. to promise to ensure that they and their comedians become compliant and literate concerning racial discrimination and that this will never happen again.

 

 We would also like to ask Tosa Kyodai and Watanabe Entertainment Co., Ltd. to answer the following questions.

　　1. Was Watanabe Entertainment Co., Ltd. aware of the contents of the 　　video? If so, please tell us the circumstances that led to the release of 　　the video. 

　　2.If not, when did you confirm the contents of the video?

　　3. The video was deleted after the protest. Was the decision to delete 　　the video made by the Tosa Kyodai or by Watanabe Entertainment 　　Co., Ltd.?

　　4. What was the reason for the deletion?

　　5. Is the Tosa Kyodai YouTube channel managed and operated by 　　Watanabe Entertainment or by the Tosa Kyodai?

　　6. Anna (Twitter ID: annaPHd9pj), who protested on Twitter, has been 　　blocked by Tosa Kyodai's account. Please tell us the reason for 　　blocking and the circumstances leading up to the block.

　　7. Is blocking of protesters and deleting the video without explanation 　　part of the compliance education to the comedians and talents 　　belonging to Watanabe Entertainment Co., Ltd.?

　　8. Concerning the apology letter sent out by Watanabe Entertainment, 　　Co., Ltd. on September 24, 2019, titled "Regarding comments made 　　during a live performance by our comedy duo A-Masso:"

　　“Respect for diversity is a priority, we take our supervisory responsibility 　　as the entertainment production company to which we belong very 　　seriously regarding the fact that A-Masso remarked on a live 　　performance that was extremely inconsiderate of this." What is 　　Watanabe Entertainment Co., Ltd.‘s view of the supervisory 　　responsibility in this case?

　　Watanabe Entertainment Co., Ltd. states, "We will continue to work to 　　raise awareness of diversity among our talent and employees, including 　　A-Masso, in the future.” What kind of efforts have you made in the 　　three years since then?

　　Watanabe Entertainment Co., Ltd. states, "We aim to be an 　　entertainment production company that can make a broad 　　contribution to society through the entertainment activities of our 　　talents." In what ways do you think the video in this case contributes to 　　society?

　　9. Many people, including the sender, have pointed out that the 　　expressions in the video in this case are discriminatory.  Does 　　Watanabe Entertainment Co., Ltd. admit it was discrimination?

 

 We would appreciate a sincere response to the above questions.

 We hope that Watanabe Entertainment, Co., Ltd. and Tosa Kyodai will learn from this mistake and  become a comedy duo who will stand up together with the minorities in Japan.

 

Signatory institution:

Specified Nonprofit Organization Metanoia