Japanese McDonald's ad criticised for 'Korean' bowing

www.telegraph.co.uk/...-korean-bowing/

Julian Ryall, tokyo
14 APRIL 2016 • 10:00AM
A humble bow delivered by a member of staff in a television advertisement for McDonald's Japan has been criticised by some Japanese for being "too Korean".

The 30-second commercial is designed to underline the company's efforts to "give the very best customer service", a spokesman for the company told The Telegraph.

Conservative viewers have taken to Internet chat rooms to complain that the young woman's hands are clasped in front of her and her elbows are flared at the wrong angle at her sides as she bows.

Traditional Japanese etiquette is for elbows to be tucked in more closely to the sides as the upper body is inclined.

Online critics were swift to declare that the woman had adopted the Korean way of bowing to a customer.

Commentators on the Jin and BuzzNews sites declared "This is an indicator that McDonald's is finished" while another added "Things like this are why McDonalds' sales keep dropping".

Yet another posted accused the burger chain of "trying to pick a fight with Japan".

Tensions between Japan and South Korea have been running high in recent years, with popular media on both sides fanning the flames at every opportunity.

South Koreans claim that Japan has failed to apologise adequately for the years of brutal colonisation in the early decades of the last century and that women forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese military during World War II have not been acknowledged or compensated.

Right-wing Japanese, on the other hand, insist that Korea's present-day wealth is a built on the occupation years and demand that two tiny islands half-way between the two nations be returned to Japanese control.

The islands are known as Dok-do in Korea and have a permanent garrison of police.

Some more tolerant commentators have come to the defence of McDonald's, with one stating in an on-line forum, "As usual, ultra-nationalist Internet users stink".

Another added, "Rather than picking apart her bowing form, why don't you idiots work on your own manners?"

Junichi Kawaminami, a spokesman for the restaurant chain, said the company has no plans to withdraw the advert.

"We are focused on providing the best customer experience that we can at our restaurants," he said. "Our intention is to show respect towards our customers."