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REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Wednesday 21st January, 05:30 AM JST

A man wearing a a look-alike mask of U.S. President Barack Obama promotes a pachinko parlor in Tokyo.

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Latest 15 of 34 Total Comments Show All

cleo at 11:31 AM JST - 21st January

The real Obama's ears don't stick out like that. And he doesn't wear trousers that are too long for him, like the bloke in the picture.
Spidey at 12:04 PM JST - 21st January

Is it just me or does it look like they're BOTH wearing masks? With the mask in the foreground being the scarier of the two.

S
Zolt at 01:09 PM JST - 21st January

The 2 masked guys creeped me out
easychord2 at 01:47 PM JST - 21st January

This just goes to show racism in Japan. I honestly don't think they think they are being racist, just naive. It's the same thing as the "monkey" Obama commercial that aired earlier last year.
cleo at 01:52 PM JST - 21st January

I won't deny that there is racism in Japan, but I fail to see how this mask shows it. Would a mask of Bush or Clinton show racism? If not, how come this one does?
tkoind2 at 01:55 PM JST - 21st January

There are a lot of clueless people who will use anything for an add or promotion because they think it is timely or cool. Zero taste people with even less common sense. It just shows how insulated and clueless some people are.
likeitis at 02:40 PM JST - 21st January

There are a lot of clueless people who will use anything for an add or promotion because they think it is timely or cool. Zero taste people with even less common sense. It just shows how insulated and clueless some people are.

This post should be a lesson to many out there. Notice how he singled no one out, or take a shot at Japan? That is because there are "people" like tkoind2 describes in every country on the planet. Good post tkoind2 on all points.
kwatt at 02:58 PM JST - 21st January

esasychord2 - Almost all japanese did NOT think that monkey on that commercial was Mr. Obama. That was just a joke/parody like that movie companies make stupid/funny imitations of original movies. I asked some japanese about it and they did not think he was Obama.
watershed at 04:32 PM JST - 21st January

What's the lady holding up - a model of the first mobile phone, is she undertaking a periscope trial for the Japanese Navy or what?
Badsey at 04:50 PM JST - 21st January

I think she is taking a picture of "Obama"
Sarge at 10:26 PM JST - 21st January

Har!
khemet at 08:51 AM JST - 22nd January

I wonder why he couldnt wear Japan's Prime Minister mask or the Emperor's mask? Why make a mockery of another nation's leader versuses your own? If its because they dont want to disrepect their leader, than treat another nation's leader with the same respect.
khemet at 08:55 AM JST - 22nd January

"A man wearing a a look-alike mask of U.S. President Barack Obama;" Oh and to the JT, nothing about the mask looks like President Obama. Have better taste in selecting the picture of the day.
memyselfI at 03:51 PM JST - 27th January

It's racist and stupid ! This is the worst advertising campaign for Pachinko to use.

What does this signify ?
cleo at 04:09 PM JST - 27th January

I'll give you that it's stupid and as an advertising ploy fails miserably. I still don't want to play pachinko.

But what makes it racist?

racism |ˌreɪsɪz(ə)m| noun the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. • prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief