Toyota Cancels Tokyo Olympics TV Ads, CEO Won't Attend Opening Ceremony

[pstokely]

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Toyota Motor Corp., a top corporate sponsor for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has decided to pull all of its Olympics-related TV commercials in Japan.

Japanese media speculated Monday that the decision was made because the car manufacturer fears association with the troubled Summer Games, which are deeply unpopular in Japan, may tarnish its brand rather than burnish it.

“The Olympics is becoming an event that has not gained the public’s understanding,” a Toyota public relations executive surnamed Nagata told Japan’s daily Yomiuri newspaper Monday. The executive added that Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda and other senior executives would not be attending the Tokyo Summer Olympics opening ceremony on July 23.

Toyota was planning to run a series of TV ads in Japan featuring the Olympic athletes whom the company sponsors.

Read more: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/toyota-cancels-tokyo-olympics-ads-wont-attend-opening-ceremony-1234984353/

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what about other countries?

[Lovie777]

1. I just don't know how it's gonna work . ...

[marble falls]

2. I feel the same about the rush "to normal" and the encouragement to stop wearing masks ...

... here in the US. That encourages non-vaccination.

[calimary]

4. That's only rushing us back into COVID custody.

It’s only gonna help the virus spread. Helped by way too many of the defiantly ignorant.

[marble falls]

15. "defiantly ignorant", that's it in a "nut" shell!!!

[Sherman A1]

3. A good move by Toyota

Hopefully more will follow.

[frazzled]

5. Maybe

But please know that the Olympic Games being "deeply unpopular in Japan" is due in no small measure to prevalent attitudes in society of xenophobia and racism. This was demonstrated recently by the brouhaha over the Tokyo hotel that posted signs on its elevators indicating one was for "Japanese only" and the other for "Foreigners only."

Those sentiments have been confirmed over the years to me by a close (American) relative who has lived in Tokyo for nearly two decades and speaks fluent Japanese. He's built his life and family there in a country he adores, but finds those attitudes an unfortunate reality.

So let's not be too quick to applaud Toyota's actions (I say this as a happy Toyota owner!). COVID knows no boundaries when it comes to race or ethnicity, and we shouldn't unknowingly support those sentiments.

[Sherman A1]

6. I have no use for Toyota in general

But still see this as a good move and I have some understanding of the problems you describe.

[frazzled]

7. How do you feel about

Major League Baseball reopening at 100% capacity for daily games right here in the US, with no restrictions on entry? 20,000 fans packing the stadiums, mostly maskless, while slurping beers and yelling?

I live in a city where Lollapalooza is being held next week, an event that typically attracts 100,000 daily attendees, from all over the country and world. I've heard little criticism of this or other American events. I'm not sure why a spectatorless Olympics, where athletes and officials/staff must be tested and are confined to the Olympic Village, sparks such condemnation.

[Sherman A1]

8. I thought baseball reopening at 100%

Was silly, but I find all professional sports to be boring. Simply not entertaining to me.

[Mawspam2]

16. Well...

...1. Are they indoor or outdoor games?
2. You have the right to wear a mask, nobody is telling you to go maskless.
3. All vaccines are now easily available and FREE. Anyone not vaccinated and refusing to mask up at this point deserves their fate.
4. As for Japan, they have a very low vaccination rate, not because of fear, but because of lack of product and poor planing by the govt.

[Evolve Dammit]

9. The surge in nationalism seems accelerated by Covid making it easier for the "dividers." Very scary.

[dalton99a]

10. It is a big mistake for any country to host the Olympic games under current rules.

[samsingh]

11. i hate Toyota and their support for anti-democracy repugs

never forgive or forget them.

to Toyota, Democracy was optional and a single issue like any other

[Bernardo de La Paz]

20. Yes, that hypocritical behavior of theirs came to mind. Saying they'd stop & quietly continuing. .nt

[soryang]

12. Abe's dream of repeating grandfather Kishi's Olympics dies hard

it's also a huge financial loss if it is cancelled. They at least have to get the television broadcast revenues.

[rpannier]

13. Abe has been pretty absent since he resigned

They're Suga's problem now; and like almost everything else under his PM, it looks like it will be a mess

[soryang]

14. His brother is defense minister

The Taro Aso and Kishi far right (Nippon Kaigi) faction of the LDP are still running things. Suga is just a Nippon Kaigi proxy.

[BradAllison]

17. So apparently the Olympics is more unpopular than American traitors

Great job, Toyota.

[Tommymac]

18. Toyota is as loyal to their Country & Culture as TFG is to ours.

Not at all.

Would not buy their product even if Hell freezes over.

Don't support their government and are trying to overthrow Ours.

それらをファック

[Ford_Prefect]

19. The fact that is it going on at all has virtually NOTHING to do with the athletes

and everything to do with Corporate Branding, Multinational industrial advertising, and Diplomatic warfare. Nike, Chevron, Coca-Cola et al OWN the games and dictate much, but not all of what happens surrounding them. Horse racing is much the same thing and for the same reasons.

Toyota was planning to run a series of TV ads in Japan featuring the Olympic athletes whom the company sponsors