TOKYO (AFP) -- Sony Music and the producer behind a Japanese girl band that performed in military-style costumes resembling Nazi uniforms apologized Tuesday following a protest lodged by the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
Teeny-boppers Keyakizaka46 had sparked anger with their black one-piece dresses and capes -- complete with peaked caps bearing a golden bird symbol resembling the Nazi eagle above a swastika -- donned at a Halloween concert in Yokohama on Oct. 22.
The Jewish documentation, monitoring and human rights organization in a statement issued Monday expressed “disgust over the use of Nazi-themed uniforms donned” by the group.
In this May 22, 2013 file photo, Yasushi Akimoto poses for photographers during JASRAC (Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers) music award in Tokyo. The producer for a Japanese all-girl "idol" group has joined Sony Music in apologizing after the popular act performed in outfits resembling Nazi-era German military uniforms. Akimoto, a songwriter who is also an executive board member of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics organizing committee, apologized in a note posted late Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016 on the group's website. He said he was unaware of the outfits before the performance, and blamed his "lack of oversight." (AP-Yonhap)
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Simon Wiesenthal Center‘s associate dean, said the display was “inappropriate and deeply offensive” and called for Sony Music Entertainment -- the group’s label -- and producer Yasushi Akimoto, to apologize.
“Watching young teens on the stage and in the audience dancing in Nazi-style uniforms causes great distress to the victims of the Nazi genocide,” Cooper said.
“We expect better from an international brand like Sony which has caused embarrassment to Japan.”
Hours after the statement was issued, Sony Music apologized, blaming its “lack of knowledge in designing costumes that reminded people of Nazi-style uniforms”.
“We apologize from the heart for causing unpleasant feelings,” the company said in a Japanese-language statement on its website.
“The costumes will never be used again.”
Producer Akimoto also posted an apology on the girl band’s website.
“I am very sorry for failing to oversee matters as the producer,” he said.
The helium-voiced pop queens are not the first Japanese band to cause offence.
Retro rock band Kishidan angered the Simon Wiesenthal Center in 2011 when they wore a costume the Jewish organization said resembled a Nazi uniform.
In neighboring South Korea, girl band Pritz provoked protests two years ago after wearing bright red armbands strikingly similar to the ones Nazi officers wore.
