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Momoiro Clover Z cancels appearance following blackface backlash
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Momoiro Clover Z cancels appearance following blackface backlash

Following negative attention received earlier this week from their racially insensitive blackface incident, popular Idol group Momoiro Clover Z has cancelled a film screening and press conference with the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ) scheduled for February 23rd.

The photo in question was posted last week onto Twitter after it gained traction when tweeted out by New York Times reporter Hiroko Tabuchi and Wired writer Daniel Feit. It was a preview for an upcoming Music Fair collaboration between Momoclo and Motown-inspired singing group Rats & Star featuring some members of both groups with their skin painted black to perpetuate racial stereotypes inspired by Rats & Star’s style of music.

The press conference for foreign journalists was planned to discuss and answer questions concerning the upcoming film Maku ga Agaru (“The Curtain Rises“) of which the five members star in. According to J-Cast, an English e-mail from FCCJ was sent out to members on February 16th apologizing for the inconvenience of the cancellation without any explicit reason as to why it was cancelled.

On the FCCJ’s event calendar, a note for the screening was appended:

CANCELLATION OF “THE CURTAIN RISES” SNEAK PREVIEW ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23

The Movie Committee regrets that we will not be able to screen “The Curtain Rises” on February 23 as planned
T-Joy joins us in deeply regretting any inconvenience this cancellation has caused.

-The Movie Committee

With their new film being released in just over a week on February 28, Momoiro Clover Z’s nation-wide schedule is packed with activities to promote their latest effort. Over-scheduling and exhaustion could be to blame with their “largest-ever promotion campaign” plan, but with all the press the group has received abroad where the issue is considered more of a sensitive and serious offense, it can be assumed that this cancellation was to solely to avoid answering questions about the photo.

No word on the status of the episode airing nor a public response from the groups or management have since been released.

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    • sumomona

      wow. in the 20+ years worth of jvariety i’ve spanned across, i’ve never seen j-ent acknowledging blackface as something bad. i mean, i guess this still doesn’t acknowledge that, but i’m surprised it was cancelled. good.

      • Fueratsu

        Let’s be real, it only got cancelled because their movie was going to play at the FCCJ. But this is progress…even if backhanded progress.

    • This is interesting. There’s an acknowledgement that they’re in hot water but then there’s this… hiding. They don’t want to openly discuss what happened.

      • ProllyWild

        Honestly what are they supposed to say? Producers on a show organized them to do blackface with a group that has a 30 year history in the bit…what can they say that doesn’t result in them throwing music fair and rats & star under the bus? If anything media should be looking at the origins of the issue, not Momoiro.

        • Yes, throw them under the bus.

          • ProllyWild

            Ideally that’d make sense if it wouldn’t also cause problems between momoiiro and Fuji TV as a whole. It’s be easier for them to apologize if they had an understanding of what they’re apologizing for. Since they don’t seem like the fans of black cultures and music I’m sure that’s not the kinda thing you want to throw them in front of a media interview panel for. Not to say the shouldn’t apologize, I just think it’s unfair to put the weight of the whole incident on them.

            • It’s not right to put it fully on them, true. But then this hiding thing makes things look even worse.

              • ProllyWild

                I mean in all honesty this is likely just side stepping the issue and avoiding hurting an unrelated project while in he midst of this situation. In the end nothing will really be learned and very little will change. Not until this reaches producers and rats & star. Momoiro won’t be hurt by any of this…..so….I mean lol it’s not much to celebrate.

                Just unfortunate all around.

                • pk@fire

                  Fuji television has said and done worse, so even this small acknowledgement is a huge admission of guilt.

                  • ProllyWild

                    This is just a cancellation of a press event with foreign media for an upcoming movie no? It pretty much has nothing to do with Fuji, rats & star or momoiro in regards to the incident. If anything they’re just avoiding the firing squad of foreign media press that would associate this incident with the unrelated movie project.

                    • Guest

                      It was most likely cancelled since the story is much bigger in the in the English-language press. Everyone in the room would have known about it so obviously they would want to press it further and try and get something out of them about it.

        • Guest

          A simple “we fucked up, people called us out, it was bad and we’re sorry” would have worked nicely.

    • nothingsover

      Well done. Maybe now Japanese media can recognize that things like blackface are extremely offensive.

    • Ja’Crispy

      Is Japan full of cowards? Grow a pair, stand up, and admit that this was wrong!

    • tiffany nicole

      Why did I bust out into laughter when I read the title lol.anywho this is a step in the right direction

    • Krys

      It’s a very tiny step in a better direction; it still feels more like “we don’t consider it wrong nor do we understand why it is offensive, we just don’t want to upset the foreigners”. There isn’t any actual compassion there. Oh well, what can you do.

      • Guest

        japan’s motto on anything with foreign relations ^^^^

    • guest

      It was posed on the other article, but yeah.
      http://hello.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/morningcoffee/1423803165/

      • Guest

        lmao drag us

      • surfboardt
      • L

        *Sigh* I wish I could understand Japanese…

      • M

        The general comments base on Google translate (terrible, I know, but…) seems to be that they think it’s funny and the whites/blacks are freaking out over nothing and making fun of them for doing so. Also, a lot of people joking about the Juice=Juice comment. If anyone with good Japanese skills wants to do a quick skim-through and give a much better idea than Google (because 95% of it makes little sense – lol, MomoClo becomes “Peach Black”) it would be appreciated. I’d definitely be interested in what Japanese people have to say about this.

        • Fueratsu

          The thread is called Foreign J-POP Fans – “Momoclo = Racist” “We hate Momoclo” “Don’t come here (overseas).”

          Be warned that this was posted in the Ookami thread where it’s full of H!P fans (and the majority of them really hate other idol groups that aren’t H!P) so there’s a portion agreeing with us (some probably just to be spiteful) and other really racist comments. Then you have exactly what you said – people wondering why black people would even like J-Pop (specifically Momoclo) and other people laughing and taking the mocking phrase “Mononofu’s tears (aka Momoclo fan’s tears)” and changing it to “Niggernofu tears.” :/ About halfway through someone posts that Momoclo was called out by that NY times writer, then they laugh some more and then laugh at the Momoclo fans fighting back in broken English saying that we’re too sensitive, some people say Rats & Star should be called out too, someone even says what about Amuro Namie back in the day, etc.

          But the overall feel is “LOL MOMOCLO YOU FUCKED UP HAHAHAHA FOREIGNERS (BLACK PEOPLE) HATE YOU NOW YOU GUYS ARE DONE LOOOL.” Besides a small portion saying it’s wrong they’re just amused that Momoclo did this in 2015 because they were going to get “caught.” There are also comments saying that foreign Juice=Juice fans are desperate and the second half bring up the 3B Junior incident and how dumb Stardust is. There is even a few comments saying Stardust is stupid for doing this on black history month (2月は黒人歴史月間). Rough translation because the thread has 1000 posts and ain’t nobody got time for that.

          • M

            Thank you very much!
            …I guess Japan changing its views/becoming less racist will take a while, huh? I feel like every day I’m reading something else new about Japan’s racism issue. Makes me sad, because I used to think Japan was this great country with people so kind, generous and polite they make even Canadians look like assholes (coming from a Canadian). But I’m slowly realizing I’m wrong… and its a little heartbreaking, especially since I will be living there someday.
            Reality’s a bitch.
            Anyways, thanks again!

            • Light11520

              Yea it is sad but hey if u plan on living there and really want to I guess you got to take with the good and the bad, I mean various videos have shown so really heartwarming japanese people and I bet they are quite a few in japan, but hey racism is a bitch.

        • Fueratsu

          Also I just realized >>77 on that 2ch thread posted a Nicki Minaj gif (http://i.imgur.com/debuOyA.gif). Fucking hilarious.

        • Juice=Juice Updates

          i see them stanning me! MY IMPACT

          • Fueratsu

            80 ：名無し募集中。。。＠転載は禁止：2015/02/13(金) 14:21:06.38 0>>76
            海外J=Jヲタもキモすぎｗ (Overseas J=J wota are so gross lol)
            89 ：名無し募集中。。。＠転載は禁止：2015/02/13(金) 14:22:57.23 0>>76
            それへの返信もワロス (The reply to that is too damn funny)
            Nope Juice=Juice Updates ? 4 hours ago
            No one cares about flop=juice and their shitty songs that sound like they’re from 1997 though.
            95 ：名無し募集中。。。＠転載は禁止：2015/02/13(金) 14:25:03.20 0>>89
            海外ファンくっそおもしれえええええ (>>89 J-pop fans are too funnyyyyy)
            98 ：名無し募集中。。。＠転載は禁止：2015/02/13(金) 14:25:47.81 0海外jヲタきめえええええ (Overseas J=J fans are DISGUSTINGGGGG)
            No, they were grossed out by your reply (and these are wota) and they were “stanning” the person who replied to you though……lol

            • Juice=Juice Updates

              i take all kinds of criticism it helps me grow <3

            • Nope

              Damn lmao, I’m proud.

    • Penny Proud
    • eplizo

      Them hiding is embarrassing af. I’m glad the issue is getting attention though. This is an issue that’s typically completely overlooked altogether in Asia.

      • echu

        Unpopular opinion coming through~

        As an Asian, I do agree with you that America’s definition of blackface isn’t that of a big deal in Asia. People think they’re just copying American celebrities or other popular black people for entertainment purposes. Nothing more, nothing less.

        Heck, I discovered the term and its meaning only because of GDragon and Super Junior’s Yesung. I might sound insensitive, but people should think that America’s definition of blackface is one of those concepts not taught in school and isn’t read in books. My initial reaction to it Honestly? Thank you, Internet for raising my awareness of such things.

        On the other hand, my country has its own definition of blackface, and it’s also racist… it’s just that it’s racism among the people of the same race (which is worse imo).

        • iGleaux

          So are you saying a skin color is funny and entertaining? You know in America small monolid eyes are viewed as funny and entertaining for a lot of people (not that all Asians have small monolid eyes but surely you see where I’m going with this). This is matter of finding humor/entertainment in something that really shouldn’t be humorous /entertaining in the first place.

          • echu

            No. But my post is more about the general awareness of Asians to blackface in real life.

            • Guest

              My country for instance, (an Asian country) does not see it as offensive, and like Japan or Korea, you see blackface in ‘comical’ situations once in a while. I’m not really sure how often it is used today cuz I don’t watch TV that much anymore.

        • pk@fire

          A short Google search would have sufficed for any person trying to look up what blackface is and what it means.

          Not that the producers of Momoclo nor for Fuji TV care, nor will their fanbase, but w/e.

          • Guest

            I pretty sure not many of those sites that explain it are in Japanese, Korean or Chinese tho. And as we all know, most of their population is getting a hard time reading simple sentences in English.

            • pk@fire

              Having been to Korea and Japan, with family (extensive numbers) in Korea, and having talked to Japanese people before, I can tell you they are more than aware of the history of racism in the US. Hence the opinion that Americans are “more racist” than Japanese/Korean folks.

          • Raasük

            I agree. Even one commenter said it was basic knowledge and linked to a wiki japan article about the topic. Wikipedia isn’t everything, but it does show that there is information about the topic in Japanese and that they aren’t as uninformed as people like to think.

            http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%83%AC%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A7%E3%83%BC

          • echu

            A short Google search would have sufficed for any person trying to look up what blackface is and what it means. <– Yes, this is what usually happens after encountering it over and over in different websites, right?

            For example, if not for K-Pop, I would've not known about it (and I bet most Asian K-Pop fans are too).

    • Conspiracy Theory

      The reason they cancelled the screening and didn’t show up is because their movie had some blackface scenes. The staff & Momokuro are re-shooting and editing the shit out of it rn.

    • OhSnap!

      Better than pretending it never happened and that’s nothing wrong with it as it happened in the past with every artist who has done it

    • Juice=Juice Updates

      but when will they apologize for their shitty music?

      • Guest

        I’m not even a MomoClo fan (I don’t know anyone who’s supposed to be one) but you sound bitter. *looks at icon* *looks at username* I can see why.

      • another guest don’t mind me

        and when will you apologize to japanese j=j wota for shaming j=j internationally? LOL

        • Juice=Juice Updates

          im part of their international promo team! you should sit back and relax with a glass of Juice=Juice

      • smtmissin

        I’m a fan of both but sorry, Juice=Juice has more shitty songs than Momoclo.
        I hope you don’t give some people (like one of those who replied to your comment) reasons to bash us, otherJuice=Juice fans, or worse than that, bash Juice=Juice themselves.

    • Pingback: Momoiro Clover Z batalkan penampilan mereka menyusul reaksi atas ‘blackface’ | Idol Share()

    • merkypie

      I saw this pic but I didnt even recognize it was flawlessiro. really disappointed.

    • yamakita

      Perfect example that anyone should check themselves before accusing anyone else of racism. It goes both ways.

    • DestroyX

      It is a motherfucking miracle.. The day we see fucking pigs fly, they actually acknowledged they were wrong.. by hiding. But still, baby steps.. Baby steps towards progress.