It didn't take long for a company in China to seize an opportunity. The tabloid newspaper Yukan Fuji (Dec 28) reports that less than a week after the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il, a garment company named Shijie, consigning sales via China's huge e-shopping site TMall.com (called Taobao in Chinese), was hawking original T-shirts bearing Kim's image.
Some 20 designs, in a variety of sizes and colors, were reportedly being offered online. A red long-sleeve version, embellished with the English words DEAR LEADER, COMRADE and GENERALISSIMO above an image of the bespectacled Kim with hand extended in a Stalin-like wave, and followed by the words WORLD HERO below, was going for 50 RMB (about 600 Japanese yen). A gray hoodie with the same design was priced at 98 RMB.
© Japan Today
35 Comments
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some14some
No wonder China is leading the world in any kind of business.
Gurukun
I can't wait for the American version of Kim Jong IL T-shirts become out. The Saddam and Bin Laden ones were hilarious....well...some of them were...
calm down
it's funny but where could you wear it ?
Foxie
Great, I hope they ship to Japan.
tkoind2
some14some. "No wonder China is leading the world in any kind of business."
Yes indeed, when there is a cheap product to hock or a buck to be made you can be sure that China will be first across the line. Even when common sense and good thinking would dictate otherwise.
I wonder if the ink contains lead? Or the fabric some kind of industrial waste. Don't forget China is usually first to do these things too.
What country or company with good sense would make tribute t-shirts to a murderous cult leader like KJL? Really?!?
Virtuoso
How about a shirt that reads, "Kim Jong Il is dead, and I'm not feeling so well myself"?
theeastisred
"Congratulations KJI on being reunited with your father."
lostrune2
Even North Korea, China steals unauthorized use of personal images from, haha!
YongYang
Well, you have to wipe SOMEWHERE...
nath
@Gurukun: I remember those shirts. I think NR ouwld react again with warnings of "dire consequences" if those shirts were produced and put online for sale.
Back to topic: I don't know how "cheap" 50 RMB is in China, but at 600 yen in Japan, it's quite cheap ... thing is, I don't like the print that much, or maybe it's just the shirt color.
LH10
BOOOO~!
oberst
wonder what's the reaction will be if you wear one of these tee in Seoul................. hope they have a sense of humor.
MaboDofuIsSpicy
My oldest daughter would wear a FU George Bush shirt. I told her to be careful near the bases here. These Kim shirts seem harmless.
Serrano
"World Hero"
Yeah right!
Virtuoso - Har!
WilliB
I wonder how many dimwits are actually going to wear this.
MaboDofuIsSpicy
I am looking to buy them on line right now WilliB. I am not a dimwit. I am a collector of stupid things. Like PM Masks of Japanese leaders.
MaboDofuIsSpicy
Just ordered them on amazon.
BurakuminDes
I agree with MaboDoful here- this would be a cool addition to a collection of weird stuff! Kitschy but funny.
Foxie
Mabo, I couldn't find that one mentioned here and the other ones are all over $30. Where did you find it? I checked Amazon USA and Japan. They must be sold out already...
Foxie
That TMall.com site rocks with all its Tees. I wonder if they ship abroad. I found the Kim Jong Il ones easily, just put in their search engine: t-shirt 男 金正日
Serrano
They shoud sell "Kim Jong Un - Four-Star General" T-shirts.
midoritori
What's next? Hawking Hideki Tojo T-shirts in front of Yasukuni shrine? I think the Chinese must have invented the "Rules of Acquisition" so beloved by the Ferengi. Nothing to tacky to make a profit on.
Nessie
"I'd rather be in Philadelphia"
Triumvere
Is it wrong that I kinda want one of these?
midoritori
@ Nessie, W.C. Fields might take exception to the company but then again he might just tweak Kim Jong-Il's nose and that would be most fitting!
cactusJack
Horrible design. I could whip something up in Photoshop much better than that.
vanspeace
I have to say I want it!
Kelvin Teh
We Chinese have always had the T-shirt sweatshops before anybody else. A Japanses would not be able able to withstand a minute in a Chinese assembly line.
iraira
There are already tons of Kim Jung Il related t-shirts, hoodies, etc., available online....for example, at www.cafepress.com I particularly like the "We Be Illin" shirt, but the ones on the Chinese site are cheaper. No, I'm not shilling for either website.
tokyokawasaki
Just goes to show (yet again) that Chinese businesses have no class.
Allison Honig
China can do anything, end of story Everything in america is made from china period.
MeanRingo
I hear Kim Jong Il invented the T-shirt. That's awesome.
lostrune2
Heh, China can only copy. Haven't encountered an original Chinese govt idea since declaring the moon was historically part of China, haha.
mrsynik
Like those T Shirts you got as a kid, it should read "My comrade went to North Korea, and all I got was this lousy dictator."
bkawamura
i agree with mrsynik