Chinese company trademarks ‘Princess Kako’ for diapers, displeases Japanese

Japan’s Prince Hisahito (C) wearing traditional ceremonial attire is accompanied by his father Prince Akishino (2nd L), mother Princess Kiko (centre R) and sisters Princess Mako (L) Princess Kako (R) after the Chakko-no-Gi and Fukasogi-no-gi ceremonies at the Akasaka imperial estate in Tokyo on November 3, 2011. Prince Hisahito, who turned 5-years-old last September had his rite of passage as a member of the Japanese royal family. AFP PHOTO/ POOL / Issei Kato / AFP PHOTO / POOL / ISSEI KATO

One unnamed company in Quanzhou City, Fujian province, China has trademarked 23-year-old Japanese Princess Kako’s name for children’s diapers.

“Princess Kako is certainly a trademark acquired by us,” said the diaper manufacturer who officially filed the trademark on June 11, 2015, as reported by News Post Seven via SoraNews24, July 5. “We are planning to sell disposable diapers for children with this trademark soon. Children are princes and princesses to their parents, so we first registered the name ‘Princess’ and then ‘Princess Kako’.”

The company further explained that using the name of Princess Kako is perfect for their product, as Japan is lauded for it’s high quality goods. Moreover, the manufacturer stressed that there was no intention in their part to insult the Imperial family.

But Japanese netizens still found the news displeasing and even insulting, as per Itai News via SoraNews24.  “In civilized countries, this kind of thing just doesn’t happen in the first place,” one netizen’s comment was cited in the report.

“Aren’t wars usually started over things like this?” another netizen was quoted. Yet another commented: “How can they even do that? Oh right, it’s in China.”

Meanwhile, one netizen suggested to use the name of the current Chinese president for children’s diapers in retaliation: “Let’s get rolling on some Xi Jinping diapers.”

The Imperial Household Agency has yet to give an official statement on the matter, as of this writing. Kate Matriano/JB

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