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Retailer Don Quijote pulls Nazi outfit after complaint

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Looks like I bought mine just in time. Wanted that "Prince Harry" look for my New Year Party.

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Hmm. The Nazi motif has always been somewhat present in pop culture. I wonder how many people actually know what Nazi ideology entailed. I want to hope it's just a matter of ignorance and more about the "sexy" uniform, rather than being deliberately offensive. I'm inclined to believe the former.

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Wow. I am amazed that a Japanese company actually cared about the views of a foreigner!

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You have to love the "Donkie" - they sell everything at any time

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Sigh....

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Aico stock is gonna take a dive.

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I'm also surprised that Don Quijote Co. publicly acknowledged the letter and agreed to stop selling the outfits. Japanese tend to be fairly anti-jewish. A recent example of this were remarks made a previous health and welfare minister in response to allowing US and other foreign health insurance companies enter the Japanese market. During a speech he said that Japan should not allow "the greedy Jews" take over and control our health care. Those were his exact words. I could cite numerous other examples of anti-jewish remarks and behavior in Japan. Trust me, complaint made to the Simon Wiesenthal Center is not an isolated incident. The institute monitors Japan very closely because of the anti-jewish sentiment.

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Don't tell them about the swastika used on maps to indicate buddhist templates in Japan. Germany only standardized the swastika later in their region so reversing it doesn't make a difference.

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Who cares. A Nazi uniform could be seen as a fun costume. Its not like people are buying them and wearing them in anti Semite rallies across Japan. Lighten up already. People dress up as all kinds of things at costume parties. If I saw a guy dressed as an SS Nazi or Hitler at a costume party, I would take the joke instead of feeling all offended.

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Actually there is one major difference between a Swastika(Old Yin/Yang symbol) and the Hakenkreuz(correct name).

The Hakenkreuz is 45 degrees rotated so it rests on a point and not a full side. So easy to differentiate.

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Who cares. A Nazi uniform could be seen as a fun costume. Its not like people are buying them and wearing them in anti Semite rallies across Japan. Lighten up already. People dress up as all kinds of things at costume parties. If I saw a guy dressed as an SS Nazi or Hitler at a costume party, I would take the joke instead of feeling all offended.

bobbafett: You might feel different if your parents, brothers / sisters or grandparents were tortured and gassed in Nazi concentration camps. In such a case, I don't think you would find the costume so amusing, even at a costume party.

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bobbafett: You might feel different if your parents, brothers / sisters or grandparents were tortured and gassed in Nazi concentration camps. In such a case, I don't think you would find the costume so amusing, even at a costume party

Of course some of my relatives fought and lived or died in WW2 but I was not bought up to hold a grudge or keep hatred in my heart. What does a Jewish group in the U.S have to do with what people choose to wear to a costume party? If they say I cannot wear it, it sounds like Nazi Germany to me.

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bobbafett - Theres no law that says you can't wear one, but if you really want to go to a party and present yourself as a major a**hole, be prepared for a beatdown. You would certainly deserve one.

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Of course some of my relatives fought and lived or died in WW2

Did your relatives die fighting the Nazis or were they exterminated at Nazi concentration camps? If not, then we are talking about two very different things. The Simon Wiesenthal Center is trying to protect the feelings of those who lost relatives and friends to the Nazis. Wearing a Nazi era uniform in public is extremely insulting and hurtful to those who lost loved ones.

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Quite a fuhrore.

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bobbafett - Theres no law that says you can't wear one, but if you really want to go to a party and present yourself as a major a**hole, be prepared for a beatdown. You would certainly deserve one.

lol! Agreed - but funny thing is I reckon here he would get greeted with "suteki"! rather than a beat-down...

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Wow. I am amazed that a Japanese company actually cared about the views of a foreigner!

I beleive Don Quijote has branches in the U.S., including in Hawaii. Mystery explained.

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The Simon Wiesenthal Center is trying to protect the feelings of those who lost relatives and friends to the Nazis. Wearing a Nazi era uniform in public is extremely insulting and hurtful to those who lost loved ones.

To many of those who lost loved ones, but not to all.

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Hatred for a symbol is irrational, that is all there is to it. The nazi costume and the nazi swastika were used as symbols during the time of Hitler's reign, and are thus closely associated with it. However, the symbols themselves are not meant as an insult. Hating and denying others the right to wear such symbols is irrational.

However, such symbols also serve as reminders of the atrocities committed. For many who are still alive, such reminders are unkind at best, and a slap in the face at worst. Wearing a nazi costume and a nazi swastika symbol doesn't mean you are a nazi or subscribe to their philosophies, however, it does remind many people around the world of what their loved ones suffered at the hands of those who did. Irrational though the dislike for such symbols may be, it is only common decency to refrain from public flaunting of such symbols, and to accede to requests to desist even at private parties.

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Good on them and I am sure the word "lawsuit" came up which most Japanese freak out at. Wonder if the letter was in Japanese? I have noticed a lot of trashy stuff from China are on the shelves now, giving it that cheap toy section smell like Walmart, and I see profit over morals in Asia. I know what American Bengoshi means... also a lot of Jewish independent financial advisor boiler rooms came and raided the Japanese markets in the late 80s and 90s and skipped town....they just nailed the last guy recently. Not many people know that....

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I agree with bobbafett, it does sound like they are becoming more like Nazi Germany. The Simon Wiesenthal Center has gotten to be a bunch of whining jerks who take every negative comment about Jews as being anti-semitic and feel offended by every little thing that resembles Nazi Germany.

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Pathetic.

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Well, this gets rid of the Hitler wannabees on a shoestring budget. For the determined purists, authentic SS collectibles are of course still available to those willing to pay in the hundreds of thousands, or millions, of yen.

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bobbafett - Theres no law that says you can't wear one, but if you really want to go to a party and present yourself as a major a**hole, be prepared for a beatdown. You would certainly deserve one.

I don't know or associate with anyone that would administer a beat down on anyone for a costume party choice. If people are that hate filled and sensitive perhaps they should be labelled extremists?

For example if someone dressed up as a Spanish conquistador, I am sure you would have no issue with that. How about as a member of the British army that killed its way across the globe to form the British empire? How about as a KGB officer or Stalin himself? Oh no, The rest of the world moved on. Just a handful of Jews want to keep waving history around and get all riled up over simple things such as costumes.

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I don't really codone anything that the Nazi's did and do not have anything against Jews, I'm just saying that it's ridiculous to impede on other people's preferences to satisfy your own. I mean, who cares if I were to listen to Slayer and wear an SS jacket, as long as I'm not going around gassing people, others should just leave me be.

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How far in the sand can you put your head? just ask any Japanese if they can breath that deep in the sand....

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"“This was meant purely as a joke, as something that would easily be recognizable. If we have complaints, we will certainly stop sales,” said Nasuzawa, the Aico spokesman."

Hahahahaha! Pretty funny joke, idiot.

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Only in Japan would they allow this to be sold 'as a joke' in the first place.

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However, such symbols also serve as reminders of the atrocities committed. For many who are still alive, such reminders are unkind at best, and a slap in the face at worst.

But where does it end? What will they do with the costumes they already have? I bet I can get it at discount somewhere, but where?

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"who cares if I were to listen to Slayer and wear an SS jacket, as long as I'm not going around gassing people, others should just leave me be"

Of course you'd love to just do as you please, we all would. Unfortunatly our actions arent independant of each other, what we say and do impacts other people. The behaviour you describe makes light of one of the darkest periods of history and memories are still fresh and very raw. Presenting yourself in Nazi symbols isnt leaving other people be.

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I have to say I am impressed that DQ actually dealt with this in a public yet sensitive manner, instead of just quietly removing it, or doing nothing like I imagine many Japanese retailers would.

On the sub-thread running here: I think there are certain things in history that raise peoples sensitivities, and this is absolutely one of them. It didn't happen in Japan, and most Japanese don't know an awful lot about it (or their own war history for that matter) but smithinjapan's comparison to a hiroshima doll is a valid one: how would that costume look being sold in an American retailer? You can bet Japanese would jump up and down pretty quick, as would anyone with any sensitivity, me included.

Making a joke of any atrocity in history is - sorry - just not funny, especially one within living memory. I'm not Jewish, the holocaust did not affect me or my family directly in any way, but I am still horrified by it as is any normal human being.

I really hope the rest of the world never does "move on" from this, because the moment they do is the moment it can happen again.

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What Don Quixote sold represented the official costume of that time

Its true. I could wear it and claim to be a double agent at a costume party or even go as the widely respected Erwin Rommel The desert Fox who was respected as humane.

His troop was never accused of any war crime. POWs captured in his Africa campaign were treated humanely. He also ignored orders to kill captured Jewish soldiers and civilians.

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Swastika is an ancient Celtic-Baltic-German symbol of the Sun. It’s more than 4 thousand years old symbol, even older than the Jewish old testament. Hitler just borrowed it and dirtied that symbol. But that not mean we need to forget our ancient history just because Simon Wiesenthal Center don’t like it.

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Bad taste for a costume...

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I was really surprised when i discovered that Costume and in a way not amused about it! There was nothing like the Industrial Killings in the Chambers of a KZ.! The Holocaust is unique!!!

Not in Palestina or in Africa, only the Killing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki come close to it, but never reached the "Abartigkeit" of Nazi-Germany!

So, and Amazon sold it, that is good to know, maybe i will quit my Account there, you too?

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However, such symbols also serve as reminders of the atrocities committed. For many who are still alive, such reminders are unkind at best, and a slap in the face at worst.

But where does it end? There are plenty of people who can be equally offended by other symbols, which will never be censored in this way.

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What about those people wearing that kind of camouflage jackets with a German flag on it? If that's ok, then a Nazi costume as decoration in a shop is ok too!

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Ever notice young bikers wearing nazi style helmets? Japan is full of people copying what they perceive as cool and hip. Not surprised that Don Quijote would sell such merchandise given the mindset in Japan.

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The Holocaust was not unique. Man has done horrible things to each other throughout history. The Nazi's just used more modern killing methods. Face it people, our history as humans is very dark, the Nazis were a mere portion of that dark history. Let it go, move forward and learn from our past history, for the sake of all.

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It's not about the clothes, it's about the heil hitler thing. japan may fought in world war II side by side with nazi germany (which is worse enough and we all know what happend), but i see no reason, not even as a fashion or cool wear, to put heil hitler on anything. this entirely sucks...

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I bought one.

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Because the Nazis were one of modern history's biggest (black) jokes I don't think this is serious - I mean, come on, lighten up. They were culturally, artistically, historically, physically and militarily ultimately a useless, pitiful joke and I think it's ok to laugh like hell at them. I wouldn't buy it myself though...

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roomtemperature: "What about those people wearing that kind of camouflage jackets with a German flag on it?"

This is not a snipe, just a bit of education: I think what you are referring to are the old-school khaki shirts with the WEST-German flag on the right upper arm. It does not constitute racism or oppression, as the swastika does. You cannot seriously compare that to a red arm-band with a swastika. If you think you can, explain why, please.

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LoneWolf: "Let it go, move forward and learn from our past history, for the sake of all."

That's what this is about... a stupid an idiotic chain store trying to make a quick buck relying on historical atrocities, while they should do something else. I hope if there are international outlets of this shop they are closed down permanently. There is nothing 'funny' about "Heil Hitler" written on an armband.... nothing at all.

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Oh God, Nazis and Japan. This thread didnt stand a chance before it even began. Guys, take a deep breath, relax and try to understand your opinion means nothing. Exhale. Absolutely nothing.

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@dentshop, apparently opinions matter quite a bit, namely the Simon Wiesenthal Centers-hence the response from Don-Qui and subsequently this article. i imagine that if people just took a deep breath and gave up before even expressing there opinions, then unbelievably stupid companies would continue to do unbelievably stupid things.

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their opinions...sorry

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american_bengoshi at 04:05 PM JST - 7th December Japanese tend to be fairly anti-jewish.

Totally disagree with this utterly ridiculous statement. Anti-Semitism itself is alien to Japanese history and culture and only became known to them after the mid 1800s based on what they were told by the Europeans and Americans. The idea that Jews controlled the world's finances was prevalent throughout the west at the time, and the firm of Goldman Sachs raising financing for the Russo-Japanese War (1904/05) only furthered that view in the eyes of the Japanese. During the WWII years despite being an ally of Nazi Germany, the Japanese military in China refused to cooperate and went as far as to obstruct the Gestapo agents chasing Jews. That Japan helped displaced Jews in the fareast even giving them asylum in Japan itself, as well as the famous story of the Japanese diplomat helping Jews get out of Europe clearly indicate that Japan did not share the anti-semitism of the west. The few instances of anti-semitic statements and actions that have made the news are invariably the result of either ignorance or influenced by western anti-semitism. Most Japanese are totally neutral due to a lack of historical amd cultural exposure, rather than "anti-jewish".

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I have no problem with selling this. People were laughing at the Nazis with Hogan's Heroes in the 60s. The holocaust was a horror, and nothing to laugh at. But the symbols that attracted ordinary and reasonable people toward fascism, that is laughable, and ought to be laughed at. We humans take ourselves far too seriously. We're idiots and way too big for our britches. Don Quixote is selling a costume, not a uniform. Nobody's glorifying it. As Bobbafet pointed out, does anybody complain when someone wears a Conquistador outfit? It's pathetic that anyone has to apologize for this, but I understand why they have to.

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Well said plasticmonkey!

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The Nazis had truly cool uniforms and symbols. Does that mean I think their ideology was also cool? If you do, you are brain damaged. I could wear a Nazi uniform all day long and not become a Nazi. I could put on a little moustache, recite Hitler speeches, yell "Sieg heil" all day and STILL not conform to Nazi ideology.

Its a costume. Get over it. If I wore it, it would be to make fun of jack-booted, jumped up, self-important, overly serious mental midgets both Nazi and other. I would make fun of those fools Monty Python style. If I wanted to offend Jews, I would dress as a Hassidic Jew or wear a yellow star or something. But keep in mind, these are probably the same people who find Wagner to be in bad taste. There are limits to my sympathy, but with some, the pity party never ends. Next Halloween, I think I might just put together a Hitler costume.

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Most Japanese are totally neutral due to a lack of historical amd cultural exposure, rather than "anti-jewish".

Totally disagree with this utterly ridiculous statement. Nice little rant on history but you're mistaken about the here and now. Anti-semitism is alive and well in modern Japan. Take off your rose-colored glasses Charisma man and you will see.

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Well I dont think there is anyone alive today who remembers their grandparents being murdered by Conquistadors, The swastika is STILL used in this day and age as a symbol of hatred and racism. The idea of ethnic cleansing is still happening in the world and its not comedy. There is absolutely a line between hyper sensitivity and a good joke. A Nazi costume crosses it, quite obviously as they are pulling the product.

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hudagree at 07:45 PM JST - 7th December Ever notice young bikers wearing nazi style helmets? Japan is full of >people copying what they perceive as cool and hip. Not surprised that >Don Quijote would sell such merchandise given the mindset in Japan.

Nazi style biker helmets have been around in the United States for several decades earlier than in Japan. The US military have been wearing nazi-style "Fritz" helmets since the mid 1980s.

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smithinjapan at 06:21 PM JST - 7th December Only in Japan would they allow this to be sold 'as a joke' in the first >place.

No that's not true. You can find Nazi costumes in many costume/party stores in the U.S. and Canada. The ready availability of such in Japan, as well as Taiwan, South Korea etc is related to the "Cosplay" market based on Nazi characters in popular manga/anime, which now has a world-wide following.

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Double standards and "forced democracy" all over again. How can democracy consist in forcing your views on others is beyond me. As always, some people take things out of context and thus inadvertently exaggerate their significance. A Nazi costume in Donki is not what it looks like to a person in in the US or Europe. And "guilting" people and making them apologize for things they don't really see the sense in apologizing for will not make the world a better place. If Jewish people are so concerned with Anti-semitism in Japan they should institute an educational centre here; now that would actually be productive. But I guess nowadays people are just concerned about the "veneer": as long as it looks OK on the surface, then the world is a brotherly, liberal, wonderful place... NOT.

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Whew! Good thing the costume was not offensive to the Iranian government or Don Quijote would have found themselves on the receiving end of a never-ending hit order.

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They should pull it.

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hoserfella at 11:18 PM JST - 7th December OssanAmerica - No that's not true. You can find Nazi costumes in many costume/party >stores in the U.S. and Canada. please give an example. I had no idea.

JT no longer permits posting urls. Many costume stores don't openly display them but can help you if you ask. There is a legitimate theatrical demand for them as well.

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american_bengoshi at 11:00 PM JST - 7th December "Most Japanese are totally neutral due to a lack of historical amd cultural exposure, rather than "anti-jewish". Nice little rant on history but you're mistaken about the here and now. >Anti-semitism is alive and well in modern Japan. Take off your rose->colored glasses Charisma man and you will see.

Your above response is as inaccurate as your original statement. In the west Anti-Semitism has a very long history and is characteristic of nearly all predominantly Christian nations. With as small a Christian population that Japan has and no Jewish inhabitants to speak of, perhaps you can explain how the Japanese could be Anti-Jewish.

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This outfit is either made of plastic or cheap cotton fabric, it's not 100% or 50% authentic. You couldn't even wear this to a racist rally, if you did you probably would have been beaten up.

It's a 1 day outfit, an disposable outfit. Just like the cheaply made sSanta outfits.

Ive seen Bin Laden facemask, Obama face mask, black male with big lips & ears face mask, caucasian male fcemask, monkey facemask, blonde caucasian lady facemask with blonde wig & etc.

I'm not offended by this plastic swastica armband and plastic/cheap cotton outfit.

What about Nazi movies with actors wearing Nazi uniforms that come out yearly, that's ok but a cheap plastic outfit is bad ???????

Last 2 movies I saw that used Nazi uniforms was Valkyrie & that horrible movie " Basards " what a crappy movie that was !!!!!

Why does this organization give the green light for a Nazi movie and says no to a plastic uniform ? ? ?

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OssanAmerica; Though you spent over an hour looking, you could not find a store selling Nazi costumes, so you state that they sell behind the counter if you ask, yeah right.

Moderator: The topic is Don Quijote.

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“This was meant purely as a joke, as something that would easily be recognizable. If we have complaints, we will certainly stop sales,” said Nasuzawa, the Aico spokesman.

no one's laughing. Why is it people have to wait for complaints to have any sense of good taste?

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You have to be a fool to say no Japanese are anti-Semites. Japan, along with NAZI Germany, Mussolini's Italy, were the TRI axis, and I have met Japanese who tell me how proud they are that Japan was fighting against Jews etc..and Don Quijote is a very cheap, low class store here in Japan. Mostly cheap, lower class young Japanese with out real full time jobs hang out at their local Don Quijote stores, them selling Nazi outfits does not surprise me at all. A few few years ago, a stupid Japanese magazine was writing that the Holocaust was just a myth, Jewish propaganda etc..now they have been closed down, after a very big Japanese organization contacted the Simon Wiesenthal Center in the USA and gave them English translations of that stupid Japanese magazine.

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I am really tired of Jews always accusing others of being anti-Semitic for such trivial things. Its just a costume. What ever happened to freedom of expression???

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I say. Live and let live.

If people want to buy such a costume let them. History is always written by the victors and the victims that are out to exploit what happened.

Time to move on. As for learning from History, hasn't happened for Millenia and won't.

Things will be repeated if conditions are right.

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Live and let live. If we give in to every crybaby organization we'll have nothing left.

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What ever happened to freedom of expression???

Indeed, those who are criticizing the sale of this costume are probably the same who chant "freedom of expression" about cartoons and books that offend Muslims.

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Indeed, those who are criticizing the sale of this costume are probably the same who chant "freedom of expression" about cartoons and books that offend Muslims.

Some probably are. However, I think most people expect others to complain about things that offend them and even protest them if they wish as was done in this case. After all, protests can and should be a form of free speech as much as offensive speech is. It is just a matter of the extent of the protests and whether they are violent or not. It is certainly better than calling for the death of people who are just being offensive.

Personally speaking, I have seen this costume for years and really did not think anything of it. It is a joke favor amongst the other silly yakuza, comb-over politician etc costumes. It is not only sold at Don Quijote. I have seen it at a lot of costume shops. It was as cheaply made as the others.

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The anti-semitic card can at times seem overplayed,but in this DQ issue I agree with the wisenthal institute.@ossanamerica,Japan was pro Nazi during the war and the guy in eastern europe(Sugawarasan) was issuing the Visas in absolute disregard of the Tokyo edicts,hence his being relieved of that posting and ensuing frustration.He died a pauper,an unsung hero who to this day, many Japanese know nothing about and I dare say he was a Japanese 'outside' the japanese.May God bless his soul.

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You can cry freedom of expression about anything. And a person should be allowed to express themselves. Poor taste is something all together different and a national chain store needs to be aware of things that are in really poor taste. A Nazi uniform depicting a swastika with Heil Hitler on the packaging is in as much poor taste to Jewish people as a Buraku costume would be to Japanese.

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Just did a checking on the article.

Aico been selling the item for 7yrs do a variety of shops. outlets. Amazon offers it(means it can be accessed from outside Japan).

Don Qui gets a letter and removes the item. What about the other retailers? Also looks like there been a demand for it if it sold for 7yrs.

Also was a similar Uniform not too long ago available in england? As I would guess it is still available in a few others.

Something missing here.

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I wonder how people in Japan would feel if DQ was selling hated Kempeitai costumes?

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If Nazi uniforms can't be sold because if offends some people, I wonder why they let Hollywood show them in their movies so often. I guess it gives them a chance to portray them as bad people.

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Checked the web there are still many places that offer Nazi Uniforms for rental globally. So why is DQ the big news, because the SW-Center made it one.

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I guess it gives them a chance to portray them as bad people.

They were bad people.

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They were bad people.

All? Sounds like offensive/vulgar stereotyping. That might offend some people!

Checked the web there are still many places that offer Nazi Uniforms for rental globally. So why is DQ the big news, because the SW-Center made it one.

I guess they need such news to periodically remind people of...

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It is not the being offended as much as the reaction to it. Protesting through peaceful means such as in this case seems quite reasonable. It is certainly better than a government issuing a deaththreat just because they feel offended.

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All? Sounds like offensive/vulgar stereotyping

The Nazis as a group were bad, yes.

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I guess it gives them a chance to portray them as bad people.

You seem to be saying you don't think they are bad. Is that why you want to buy one? Are you saying they were a good group and that is why you want this costume? I would like to understand what you mean.

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888naff,

There are lots of things more serious than this costume. That does not mean that people cannot be offended by it. What does one have to do with the others?

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Thats far more serious than some fancy dress

Lots of things are. However, that does not mean people can't be offended.

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"Making a joke of any atrocity in history is - sorry - just not funny"

I don't agree with selling this stuff as being "fun" or "Funny" but I object less to this than the store in Akihabara that actually sells real and replica Nazi uniforms including pictures of Hitler, Flags, battle photos basically everything glorifying the Nazi.

As for humor, sometimes it is just what is needed to make people think, Mel Brooks pointed that out, as did the cast of Hogan's heroes many of whom were survivors of the Nazi horrors.

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Making a joke of any atrocity in history is - sorry - just not funny

The atrocity is not the Nazi uniform, the Nazis themselves, or even Hitler.

The Nazi uniform was an official uniform of a major power during a very important period of history. If you are offended by it, just don't buy it.

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The atrocity is not the Nazi uniform, the Nazis themselves, or even Hitler.

What exactly is the atrocity, then?

The Nazi uniform was the uniform of a very bad group that managed to become a major power. It was not an important period of history as much as a black and horrible one. If people are offended by this costume, they have the choice of not buying it and they also have the choice of protesting it.

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I think there is quite an ignorance in Japan of the significance of Hitler, the Nazis, the swastika, and WW2 in Europe goes.

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There are plenty of other street fashions in Tokyo to be offended by. Why pick on DQ?

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Nazi Uniforms were designed by Hugo Boss and are still the coolest of any army gear ever made....

I dont spport their ideas in any way but as Japan was on the "baddies" side in the war then its a hard one to lay this guilt trip on them that comes from Europe. In Japan war veterans dress in their gear still today and visit Yasukuni shrine etc. because its part of their heritage..good or bad....do people say "hey get those uniforms off!", japan committed many atrocities but is all imagery banned???..no ...only the chinese make a noise...and did china ever commit atrocities??ask Tibet... The uniforms are Historical and nowadays used for comical parties and paraody. Perhaps Children dont know the difference...but adults have the right to pretend they know the difference

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Nazi Uniforms were designed by Hugo Boss

I seriously doubt this one was though.

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I do admit...it is hard to attend a costume party in Japan without bumping into several direct decendants of nazi concentration camp victims...pfffft

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elbudamexicano at 05:15 AM JST - 8th December You have to be a fool to say no Japanese are anti-Semites.

Of oourse nopthing is absolute. Of course there are "some" anti-semitic Japanese. But the numbers are insignificant compared to the western Christian nations that have centuries of an anti-semitic tradition passed down through geneerations, or the muslim nations which have a hightened anti-semitic sentiment since the establishment of the state of Israel. As there are very few Christian Japanese, and even less Muslim Japanese, nearly 100% of any anti-semtism you may find among Japanese is "imported" from one of the two previously mentioned sources.

Japan, along with NAZI Germany, Mussolini's Italy, were the TRI axis, >and I have met Japanese who tell me how proud they are that Japan was >fighting against Jews etc..and

I find that almost impossible to believe when Imperial Japan did not in practice go along with Nazi Germany's persecution of the Jews. Google up "Fugu Plan" and you'll see how that Imperial Japanese Govt actually obstructed Germany's persecution of Jews in the far east.

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@ the truth hurts....just as you say..the truth hurts Google search on Hugo Boss and SS uniforms ...then google IBM and concentration camp tatoos....etc etc. yes the truth does hurt

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DQ did the right thing. The "costume" is in bad taste on a very large scale. You don't have to be Jewish or related to a war survivor in order to have the right to be offended. WW2 is indeed history, although the swastika remains in use by hate groups today. It IS a symbol of hate, so why would anyone in their right mind want to parade around and party in it? That is, assuming you understand the connotations that it carries with it. Maybe you'd like to meet some of these neo-nazi groups and let them know about your costume idea for next Halloween. I'm sure they'll be thrilled too. I hardly think this particular costume can be compared to ANYTHING else you can possibly think of. "Conquistador"....nice one.

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tokyocrawler,

Don't be silly! Read my post again. I was talking about the costume Don Quijote was selling. I doubt that one was designed by Hugo Boss. More like Daiso's cousin.

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I wouldn't buy it, I wouldn't go to a store that sells it, and I wouldn't converse with a person who would buy it. I have the same policy with weed, but if someone wants to sell it and someone wants to buy it, I got no problem.

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The institute monitors Japan very closely because of the anti-jewish sentiment.

american bengoshi: Nothing new since this institute has been monitoring so many other countries as much as it does Japan. There are a ton of countries I could name (the U.S., Britain, etc.) with a lot more hatred towards Jews that I'm sure this institute is monitoring heavily.

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I saw this, and thought it was just a Prince Harry costume...

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Wow, I am Jewish. But I am not afraid.

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Japan is not a backwater uneducated country. As a global participant, Japan's corporations have a respnsibility to understand these sensitivities. DQ did the right thing and by going public admitting their mistake and how they fixed it, makes them look sophisticated.

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I read that there was also a Tojo with noose sidekick costume too? Would the Japanese find that humorous?

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