Nissan Breaks Deal With Richard Gere for Fear Of China Reprisals

Mulboyne · #1 03-29-2008, 03:05 AM

Gere doesn't take "no" for an answer.

A Japanese news report claims that Nissan has backed out of a contract to use Richard Gere in a television commercial for fear that his public support of the Dalai Lama will anger China. Industry insiders claim that Nissan decided to use Gere for their Teana brand on the 7th March and arranged to sign a contract worth $1.6 million at the end of the month with filming beginning on the 9th April. As violence erupted in Tibet, Nissan grew nervous about Gere's politics. The company has manufacturing operations in China and recently announced new sales targets for the Chinese market and became concerned that Gere would be a liability. They apparently decided on the 18th March not to go ahead with the deal. Sources close to Gere say even though there was no contract, there may well be case in court to force Nissan to pay not only the contracted amount but also a penalty. Nissan had no comment. The article says that since Gere's statements on Tibet are hardly a secret to anyone, Nissan appears to have blundered in starting negotiations with the actor in the first place.

TennoChinko · #2 03-29-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulboyne

Gere doesn't take "no" for an answer.

A Japanese news report claims that Nissan has backed out of a contract to use Richard Gere in a television commercial for fear that his public support of the Dalai Lama will anger China. Industry insiders claim that Nissan decided to use Gere for their Teana brand on the 7th March and arranged to sign a contract worth $1.6 million at the end of the month with filming beginning on the 9th April. As violence erupted in Tibet, Nissan grew nervous about Gere's politics. The company has manufacturing operations in China and recently announced new sales targets for the Chinese market and became concerned that Gere would be a liability. They apparently decided on the 18th March not to go ahead with the deal. Sources close to Gere say even though there was no contract, there may well be case in court to force Nissan to pay not only the contracted amount but also a penalty. Nissan had no comment. The article says that since Gere's statements on Tibet are hardly a secret to anyone, Nissan appears to have blundered in starting negotiation swith teh actor in the first place.

A good time for online sokaiya to launch their joint "Free Tibet : Boycott Nissan" campaigns?

Catoneinutica · #3 03-29-2008, 11:02 PM

Heh. Day by day, Big Daddy China penetrates Japan just a leeetle bit deeper. Savor the feeling, J-nationalists, because you'll have to get used to it!

Dragonette · #4 03-30-2008, 12:45 PM

I don't get it - Japan refuses to apologize for or even officially acknowledge Nanking, or the war criminals enshrined at Yasukuni, and then Nissan pulls off a chickenshit deal like this. Are they now in denial about what's going on in Tibet?

And where are the voices of Japanese Buddhist monks in all this? I haven't seen any protests or demos there, although I've been told that most of Japanese Buddhism has evolved into just another profit-driven section of Japan Inc. Unless I see otherwise, I guess that may be true, ne...

Takechanpoo · #5 03-30-2008, 01:23 PM

Real enemy for Japan is not China but Judea=AngloSaxon white dudes. Traditionally Anglo-Saxon white dudes have had a strategy making Japan and China hate each other and corner them into mutural destruction in East Asia. Of course poison gyoza fuss was a conspiracy by CIA or MI6 to keep the two Mongoloid countries from making real friendship. Japan and China is brother.

American Oyaji · #6 03-30-2008, 01:37 PM

There is corporate Japan and there is the political Japan. Two different beasts.

Greji · #7 03-30-2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragonette

I don't get it - Japan refuses to apologize for or even officially acknowledge Nanking, or the war criminals enshrined at Yasukuni, and then Nissan pulls off a chickenshit deal like this. Are they now in denial about what's going on in Tibet?

Japan is Japan and a country. But, Nissan is a company responsible to its stockholders for their money. They're not supposed to be in business to make public protests, or demonstrations. Personally, I think Gere is an asshole, but he does have a following in Japan and probably when the decision was made to use him for this promotion, the threat of the Tibet incident coming on to this level was not as much in the public eye, or the planners just weren't thinking. I think they were right for dumping him.

Quote:

And where are the voices of Japanese Buddhist monks in all this? I haven't seen any protests or demos there, although I've been told that most of Japanese Buddhism has evolved into just another profit-driven section of Japan Inc. Unless I see otherwise, I guess that may be true, ne...

Although there are some out-spoken priests in Japan, the majority tend to avoid public outcries and demonstrations, which is probably more keeping with their beliefs, which tend to preclude getting involved with pro or anti-government movements.

Again, personally, I don't think any religion should be involved in government, either in dictating, or influencing policies, but to each his own if that's what you believe, dozo, but just don't try to sell it to me.

Catoneinutica · #8 03-30-2008, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takechanpoo

Real enemy for Japan is not China but Judea=AngloSaxon white dudes. Traditionally Anglo-Saxon white dudes have had a strategy making Japan and China hate each other and corner them into mutural destruction in East Asia. Of course poison gyoza fuss was a conspiracy by CIA or MI6 to keep the two Mongoloid countries from making real friendship. Japan and China is brother.

The gyoza "truther" movement - yay! But you forgot to include the Jews - er, make that the Israel lobby.

-catone

-China and Japan are indeed relatives, but it's by marriage - and Japan ain't the husband; it's the diminutive, snaggle-toothed little wife that sometimes gets all hysterical and nationalist 'n shit. Whereupon China, Take-approved hubby that it is, slaps that bitch up!

ttjereth · #9 03-30-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greji

Although there are some out-spoken priests in Japan, the majority tend to avoid public outcries and demonstrations, which is probably more keeping with their beliefs, which tend to preclude getting involved with pro or anti-government movements.

Again, personally, I don't think any religion should be involved in government, either in dictating, or influencing policies, but to each his own if that's what you believe, dozo, but just don't try to sell it to me.

She's not saying religion should have a place in government, is she?

ttjereth · #10 03-30-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takechanpoo

Real enemy for Japan is not China but Judea=AngloSaxon white dudes. Traditionally Anglo-Saxon white dudes have had a strategy making Japan and China hate each other and corner them into mutural destruction in East Asia. Of course poison gyoza fuss was a conspiracy by CIA or MI6 to keep the two Mongoloid countries from making real friendship. Japan and China is brother.

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