The Taipei City Government’s Hakka Affairs Commission apologized and took down a billboard at 9pm on Wednesday, in response to criticism it resembled a renowned Ezaki Glico Co advertisement in Osaka, Japan, the sixth generation of which had been unveiled in the city that day.
The Ezaki Glico billboard, featuring a running man with his hands raised, has remained in place since it was first put up in 1935, undergoing multiple revisions to commemorate different events.
The company is a renowned sweets company based in Japan.
Photo: Internet screengrab
The commission’s Hakka Cultural Foundation admitted to a faulty review process and said it would reprimand the contracted company, adding that aside from posting an apology on Facebook, it would also apologize to Ezaki Glico through other channels.
Some netizens said they did not know what Japanese tourists would think of Taiwan if they had passed through the area.
Other netizens said they did not understand why the government would plagiarize a Japanese idea when Taiwan has excellent illustrators.
Photo provided by Internet user
The foundation said that the billboard was placed on the outer walls of the Hakka Cultural Park, adding that it had been subcontracted to a sales and promotion company.
The foundation said it was given a preview of the product, but had not realized that it was a copy of another product with such history, adding that it had immediately taken the billboard down, roughly nine hours after it was put up.
The foundation promised an internal review and said it would seek compensation from the company it subcontracted.
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