French Fukushima cartoon has Japan up in arms

Japan voiced anger on Thursday over cartoons published in a French newspaper that took aim at the decision to award the 2020 Olympics to Tokyo despite the ongoing nuclear crisis at Fukushima

Satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaine published a cartoon depicting sumo wrestlers with extra limbs competing in front of a crippled nuclear plant, which said the disaster had made it a feasible Olympic sport.

Not so funny: The cartoon in the u00a0Le Canard Enchaine shows sumo wrestlers with extra limbs competing in front of the crippled nuclear plant. Pic/AFP

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the satirical jabs give the wrong impression about Japan. The government has repeatedly claimed the accident and its waste water problem are under control and should not affect the Olympics.

“These kinds of satirical pictures hurt the victims of the disaster,” said Suga. “This kind of journalism gives the wrong impression about the waste water problem,” he said. The government will officially lodge a protest with the French weekly, Suga said.
u00a0

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!