Akina Minami, left, and Dante Carver

'Idol' Akina Minami beats actor Dante Carver in iPhone game competition

Monday 23rd March, 07:09 AM JST

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cleo at 04:03 PM JST - 23rd March

People who will see racism in the Softbank commercials will see racism in anything.

I've got two black dogs, does that make me racist? What about my friend with her brown dog? And another friend with a brown, black and white papillon?
LoveUSA at 06:24 PM JST - 23rd March

he is a true gentleman, letting her win. A dream man.
plasticmonkey at 06:54 PM JST - 23rd March

Cleo, what would be the point of casting a black man and a dog as members of an otherwise ordinary Japanese family? It's an obvious attempt at absurdist humor. Using someone's race just to make a joke isn't interesting, it's racist. I would feel sorry for the white dog too, but I doubt if it's offended...
cleo at 07:30 PM JST - 23rd March

what would be the point of casting a black man and a dog as members of an otherwise ordinary Japanese family? It's an obvious attempt at absurdist humor

And there's something wrong with humour these days? The way I see it, the 'point' is that the whole world (or at least everyone in the Softbank network) is one big happy family. Or as the Japanese say, jinrui mina kyodai (We're all brothers under the skin). It's a sentiment I'm all in favour of - the very opposite of racist.

There are two white dogs, by the way. One is good at striking the right poses and the other one is good at talking (or at least moving its mouth). I'm sure neither of them are in the least offended.
PaulieWalnuts at 07:43 PM JST - 23rd March

Personally I would be ashamed to be in such a racist role as talking down to a white dog, at least he was beat in a video game by an airhead Japanese chick. I guess that's the whole point. Japanese chick beats black man who talks to white dog. Lets reverse it: White man beats Japanese girl who talks to black dog. See what happens then. I honestly take offense to it.

spacemonkey, I think your name might be a reference to black people with the implied notion that you'd like to send them all into space. shame on you! (see how easy it is)
plasticmonkey at 08:41 PM JST - 23rd March

And there's something wrong with humour these days?

No, but this isn't funny.
soothsayer at 09:03 PM JST - 23rd March

Why is Minami's role as idol in quotation marks? Is she not an official idol?

Because it's Japanese English for celebrity. The quotation marks are there to let people know that it is not a standard English expression. English always has an adjective in front of the word when describing a celebrity, such as pop idol and teen idol. If it stands alone, then it defines a religious statue worshipped as a god.
soothsayer at 09:06 PM JST - 23rd March

‘‘I had a very good time,’’ an excited Minami said, punching the air after playing the game

Yes, this is what most people say at such times. Back to translator's school, methinks!
cleo at 10:39 PM JST - 23rd March

this isn't funny

Fair enough, there's lots of 'obvious attempts at humour' out there that I don't find particularly funny, but I don't expect the whole world to share my sense of humour. The idea of a mixed family like the Softbanks is mildly amusing, not side-splitting, rolling-on-the-floor stuff.

I still don't get this 'racist' angle, though. The character Carver plays is a nice, mild-mannered businessman with what appears to be a good job, good relations with his family...what in that is there to take offense at?
gogogo at 01:52 AM JST - 24th March

Wow talk about an advert dress up as news... go apple and konami!
Sarge at 07:20 AM JST - 24th March

Cleo / Paulie - Excellent posts.
Keithhhh4 at 10:05 AM JST - 24th March

What the hell is wrong with you people????
Tahoochi at 05:20 PM JST - 25th March

I like Carver and those commercials. Not once have I thought the theme to be racist... plasticmonkey: sounds like you're trying to MAKE it a racial thing. What's with that?
memyselfI at 05:31 PM JST - 25th March

I do not find anything racist about anything. It's just a weird family . It's not real. The white dog and brown skin american man is not racist. The man has brown skin. Not black skin.

Who cares ???? It's a attention grabber commercial. Nothing more Nothing less

His name on the commercial is　Yo so guy des My romanji is off Nihango it means Which means　Unexpected Surprise Grow UpPeople
space_monkey at 01:17 AM JST - 26th March

I was joking. Yomuri, glad you got the joke.