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Universal Music LLC officially announced on October 18, 2022 that they had postponed the release of “Hyakuyaku no Cho,” the latest album from Japanese singer-songwriter Shiina Ringo. The cause of this delay is a controversy related to the designs of free card cases and mask sleeves packaged with the limited edition of the album.
The free goods initially featured designs inspired by the Red Cross Logo. This tied into the album’s title, which translates to “the best medicine”. (It’s a saying typically used about alcohol: 酒は百薬の長 .)
Shiina also previously described the album as “a new prescription drug.” However, these designs came under fire because of their resemblance to a symbol used to identify real medical needs.
What is the Help Mark?
Designed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in collaboration with the Red Cross, the help mark” consists of a white cross and a white heart on a red background. People with invisible disabilities such as mental health problems, internal conditions, and other issues not immediately obvious to the naked eye wear tags bearing the mark when out in public. This mark indicates that they may require medical assistance in certain situations.
Web sites set up by the Tokyo government encourage people to offer their seats on public transportation to those wearing a help mark as well as assist them first in the case of natural disasters and other emergencies.[1]
The Tokyo Metropolitan government first introduced the help mark in July 2017. Its use has since spread throughout Japan. Tokyo Metro officially holds the copyright.
Recently, Tokyo’s moved to prevent the resale of help marks by people who order tags from the government with the intention to make money. As a result, some prefectures have limited the number of tags given out to one per person. Others require applicants to fill out stricter registration forms before receiving their tags. [2]
Shiina Ringo’s merch design uncannily resembles the mark
The free gifts accompanying the limited edition of “Hyakuyaku no Cho” featured a design extremely similar to the official help mark. It included a white cross on a red background, with the heart symbol replaced by a combination apple and yin-yang.
The design quickly sparked controversy on social media, with many commenting that it would cheapen the effect of the real help mark or that it would be falsely used as a fake mark by those who did not have real medical needs. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Red Cross also both contacted Universal Music expressing their concerns regarding the design.[3]
On October 18, Universal Music LLC made a statement that the release of the album would be delayed and that the merchandise would be redesigned so as not to resemble the help mark. The company released an official statement on their Web site, which read: “We sincerely apologize for making people who use the help mark and who strive to promote it feel anxious and uncomfortable.” [4]
A representative from the Public Health Bureau spoke up approving of the company’s decision, as did SR Nekoyanagi Line, the official Twitter account for Shiina Ringo-related news.
As of now, the new release date for “Hyakuyaku no Cho” has not been announced. The new design of the accompanying merchandise has also not been shared at this time.
What to read next
Sources
[1] Official Help Mark Web site. Link.
[2] Japan Times. “Use of ‘Help Mark’ symbol spreading in Japan.” 30 August 2022. Link.
[3] Mainichi Shinbun. “ヘルプマーク酷似に批判 椎名林檎さんグッズ、CD発売延期” 19 October 2022. Link.
[4] Universal Music Co. “Press Release.” 18 October 2022. Link.
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