Coke turns Buddhist into Nazi

[ramchop]

Soft drink giant Coca-Cola pulled a promotional robot figurine adorned with what looks like Nazi swastikas following criticism from a local Jewish leader.

The company withdrew "Robowaru'' from a promotional set of plastic figurines derived from the Japanese television series "Robocon'' following a complaint by Rabbi Yakkov Kermaier of Hong Kong, Coca-Cola spokesman Kelly Brooks said Wednesday in Atlanta.

The original Robowaru has two Buddhist symbols printed on its chest _ but the Coca-Cola promotion inverts the ancient symbols, making them very similar to Nazi swastikas.

[Steve Bildermann]

[Taro Toporific]

DANG. I want the rest-of-the-story on this cuddly l'il guy "Robocon" from a mid-70's television series that was kind of like a robotic version of "H.R. Puffinstuff." The now-dead creator of Robocon, Ishimori Shotaro, also created Kamen Rider and Goranger, among bunch of others live action crap.

Check out bootleg Robocon EngRish at:
http://www.bootlegactionfigures.com/japaneserobot.html
http://www.bootlegactionfigures.com/japrobot4.jpg

Robocon's girlfriend "Robin-chan" is here:
http://www.t3.rim.or.jp/~honey/CUTIEDOLLS/POPPY.html


List of Ishimori Shotaro's work:
http://incolor.inebraska.com/stuart/henshin/is1.htm

[ramchop]

DANG. I want the rest-of-the-story on this cuddly l'il guy...

DANG. I want one of those Robowaro-turned-bad Coke promotional toys. It's got to be a priceless collector's item. Anyone willing to travel to Hong Kong to get me one?

[DJEB]

Wonder how the Rabbi might feel about the Nippon Shorinji Kempo martial arts group then?

Yeah, I remember the old master whats-his-name died about 10 or 12 years back. Anyway, he and the boys used to have swastikas on their dogis. I've seen the original Shao Lin monks, and they don't have the swastika anywere. In the world of Bhuddism, is the use of the swastika unique to Japan?

[ramchop]

In the world of Bhuddism, is the use of the swastika unique to Japan?

It's not a swastika, it's a backwards swastika (as both of the above examples illustrate). And no it's not unique to Japan.

What I want to see is the culprit in question... and does it (please!) have a Coke logo displayed prominantly below the offending symbols?

[kurohinge1]

In the world of Bhuddism, is the use of the swastika unique to Japan?

No, I think it's been around for a long time in many places. I remember the old stone archway leading into a brewery in Denmark (Carlsberg?) had such carved symbols (reverse swastikas) that pre-dated WWII.

I also recall someone telling me that one of the pubs in Sydney had wall/floor tiles with the symbol in the early 1900's - before the Nazis corrupted it (the symbol not the pub).

"When good signs turn bad ..."

[DJEB]

In the world of Bhuddism, is the use of the swastika unique to Japan?

It's not a swastika, it's a backwards swastika (as both of the above examples illustrate). And no it's not unique to Japan.

I know that it goes in the reverse direction - but it's easier saying swastika than backwards swastika. And as you and kurohinge1 say, it is a symbol that has been around for a loong time in many places. I know that it was in use in native North American cultures, for example. At any rate, would I be correct in assuming that your answer means that the backwards swastika is used by Bhuddists outside of Japan?

[ramchop]

At any rate, would I be correct in assuming that your answer means that the backwards swastika is used by Bhuddists outside of Japan?

Yup.

In the Buddhist tradition, the swastika symbolizes the feet or footprints of the Buddha and is often used to mark at the beginning of texts. Modern Tibetan Buddhism uses it as a clothing decoration. With the spread of Buddhism, it has passed into the iconography of China and Japan where it has been used to denote plurality, abundance, prosperity and long life.

It's also used by Hindus:

In India, a distinction is made between the right-hand swastika which moves in a clockwise direction and the left-hand swastika ( more correctly called sauswatika), which moves in a counterclockwise direction. The right hand swastika is a solar symbol and imitates in the rotation of its arms the course of the Sun, which in the Northern hemisphere appears to pass from east then south to west. The left-hand swastika more often stands for might the terrifying goddess Kali and magical practice.

[Steve Bildermann]

What I want to see is the culprit in question... and does it (please!) have a Coke logo displayed prominantly below the offending symbols?

Here is the offensive little guy.

[DJEB]

ramchop

Sauswatika. I'll remember that. Thanks.

[ramchop]

Here is the offensive little guy.

Thanks.

Where did you find the little fella? I've been searching off and on all day for him. I want one.

[ramchop]

As I mentioned in my Coca-Cola Collecting page, the item my father gave me that got me started collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia was the Swastika watch fob dated in the 1920's.

[gaijin99]

This is another effort of arrogant Jews to suppress what is part of worldwide traditions, including Buddhism, for thousands of years. See here:
http://www.sabon.org/swastika/
What do Jews believe? Just because someone has abused the swastika those Buddhists can't use it as a manji (symbol for good) anymore? On the robot it is used as that. Due to the freedom of speech and religion Coca Cola should not have responded to that request. It is just a proof that they are cowards and that Jewish money is to important for them.
This stinks.

[Resolute Optimist]

his is another effort of arrogant Jews to suppress what is part of worldwide traditions, including Buddhism, for thousands of years. See here:
http://www.sabon.org/swastika/
What do Jews believe? Just because someone has abused the swastika those Buddhists can't use it as a manji (symbol for good) anymore? On the robot it is used as that. Due to the freedom of speech and religion Coca Cola should not have responded to that request. It is just a proof that they are cowards and that Jewish money is to important for them.
This stinks.

You must be joking. I'm sure that the jewish community dosen't mind swastikas used in a buddhist context, but what the f*** should they be doing a robot?
I'm not jewish, but I don't think that the use of the symbol is justified in this case, especially teamed with red and black...
Just because Israel and Palestine are fucking around dosen't make it ok to be antisemitic.

[Big Booger]

the point is, is that is NOT a swastika... it just looks like one.. and has been pointed out, it is a symbol of the Hindu faith.. that was used far before the Nazi adopted the reverse of the Hindu symbol as their symbol..

So in this case, I'd tell that rabbi to shove it..

[ramchop]

the point is, is that is NOT a swastika... i

No, the point is that it IS a swastika. Coke (accidentally or intentionally) reversed the happy Buddhist symbol of the original Robowaru.