By SHUHEI SHIBATA/ Staff Writer
November 16, 2021 at 17:15 JST
The production committee of popular anime series “Attack on Titan” halted orders for official armband goods on Nov. 15 following complaints they evoked images of Nazi Germany’s persecution of the Jews.
The committee’s website set up to take the orders said the Marley’s Armband in the series is used to distinguish the devilish Eldians from other races in the nation called Marley.
The armband was to be sold only through orders placed between Nov. 15 and Dec. 3.
But just hours after it began accepting orders, the committee ended the sales campaign.
The committee received numerous online posts objecting to the sales on grounds that the Marley armband was similar in nature and appearance to the Star of David badges that the Nazis forced Jewish people to wear.
The committee later apologized and said it has no intention of tolerating any form of discrimination.
“Readily merchandising what was drawn as a symbol of racial discrimination in the work was an act that lacked consideration,” the committee said.
The committee, which includes officials of Kodansha Ltd., publisher of the manga version of “Attack on Titan,” announced the sale of a set of armbands of three different colors in a tweet on the night of Nov. 14.
The tweet said the Marley armbands are a faithful reproduction of those depicted in the work by manga artist Hajime Isayama.
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A tweet from the official account of “Attack on Titan” announces upcoming sales of the Marley’s Armband. (The Asahi Shimbun)
