What on Earth was Doyusha thinking?

[Mike_G]

I was looking for old Doyusha kits on eBay and ran across this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/141847303998?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I don't know if it's a tie-in to some Japanese cartoon or what, but it sure is weird

[Phirewriter]

It is from an anime series and yes many of the cars are familiar (Porsche, Ferrari, and other exotics) With rather unique paint designs. The series isn't new, therefore the lack of political correctness concerning some of the cars. Also remember what ties some people's panties in knots here doesn't  always have the same impact in other cultures. I'm not condoning it, but if that's what floats in the Japanese culture as acceptable to include in a kit, so be it.

Edited January 1, 2016 by Phirewriter

[Harry P.]

Well, in reality Adolf Hitler actually did engage Ferdinand Porsche to design the "people's car," later to become known as the Volkswagen. So maybe a Porsche with a swastika on the door isn't so far fetched after all?

[Erik Smith]

You'll notice in western cultures the frequent use of the rising sun flag - Japan's military flag and ensign prior to surrender in 1945. To many cultures, Chinese and Korean for sure, the use of that flag is akin to the swastika in our society. There are differences in how things are interpreted, obviously, the swastika holds less of a notorious place in Japan than Europe. 

[kruleworld]

"The Circuit Wolf is a shõnen adventure and racing manga published in Japan as Circuit no Õkami . It was serialized in Weekly Shõnen Jump from January 1975 to June 1979."

so, pretty old. i'm guessing he's the 'BAD' guy, after all, he drives a Porsche.

surprisingly, this is the ONLY thread i could find complaining about the swastika. you'd think the internet howlers would be in full force over this, doubly so since it's a toy (like it or not, model cars ARE considered toys to everyone who doesn't build them for a hobby).

Edited January 2, 2016 by kruleworld

[Dave Van]

Also the swastika  was around LONG before Hitler adopted it.  Now putting it on a German car does kinda seem odd. 

[62rebel]

Seems to me that we ought to have the choice to put the swastika on the kit or not... I suppose it HAS to be built exactly as it's portrayed on the box lid.

[Daddyfink]

I am sure this kit is a big seller in India! 

[Harry P.]

Hitler ice cream cones???!!!!

[Ace-Garageguy]

Hitler ice cream cones???!!!!

The tasty frozen treat that makes you feel like a jumped-up little moron bent on world-domination. 

But wait...there's more...Hitler coffee creamer...in Switzerland !!

Edited January 2, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[Phirewriter]

Duh... I hate when something so obvious flys under my radar.   The Aurora "Road Aces" series came to mind with the kit. For those that don't know/remember, these were based on the 1/25 series of sports and race cars with WWII aircraft graphics. I believe most of them have been reissued in stock form from Monogram either shortly after acquiring Aurora or in the SSP program. 

[Harry P.]

The tasty frozen treat that makes you feel like a jumped-up little moron bent on world-domination. 

But wait...there's more...Hitler coffee creamer...in Switzerland !!

What in the wide world of sports is going on here???

[DaveM]

Different cultures view different things as offensive.     This product was viewed very differently in Asia than it was in the U.S.  

 

I do agree that the Hitler Creamer is a bit tacky, though.  In some countries, Hitler is not the bad guy he was here.  Many  unhappy subjects of the British Empire adapted Hitler as a hero just for the  purpose of whizzing off Britain.   I know during WWII, certain segments of the Indian population were supporting the Nazis just hoping to get out from under British rule.  Putting Hitler on products probably satisfied the desire to stick it to the Brits.  (A sentiment that still exists in many parts of India and even Pakistan)

Edited January 2, 2016 by DaveM
I keep hitting "post" before I am finished.

[Harry P.]

 In some countries, Hitler is not the bad guy he was here.  Many  unhappy subjects of the British Empire adapted Hitler as a hero just for the  purpose of whizzing off Britain.   I know during WWII, certain segments of the Indian population were supporting the Nazis just hoping to get out from under British rule.

I guess that does make sense...

[Phirewriter]

Kind of the same reasons in the 60's some motorcycle "clubs" used the swastika simply as a offensive image to upset the general population at the time. I'm sure there may have been some racist component but they certainly didn't adopt the nazi ideal.

[Mike999]

Dave M said: "I know during WWII, certain segments of the Indian population were supporting the Nazis just hoping to get out from under British rule.  Putting Hitler on products probably satisfied the desire to stick it to the Brits.  (A sentiment that still exists in many parts of India and even Pakistan)."

And Egypt. During WWII, future president Anwar Sadat was arrested for trying to get help from the Nazis.  I lived in Alexandria, Egypt from 2005-09, and heard this exchange when some of us, including a Brit, were roaming around downtown Alex with an Egyptian friend:

Brit, looking at street sign: "Sofiya Zaghloul Street?  So who was Sofiya Zaghloul?

Egyptian: "She was the wife of Sa'ad Zaghloul, our leader in the 1919 Revolution."

Brit: "Ah! So ol' Sofiya got a street named for her, just because she was somebody's wife?  And what else did she do in the Revolution?"

Egyptian: "She shot two British officers."

I also lived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for 2 years.  Every weekend (Thurs & Fri) I prowled toy stores looking for old kits.  One store had a dusty, flyblown shelf of old 1/72 Airfix aircraft kits.  The store owner had taken a black marker and obliterated the Balkenkreuz on the sides of the German aircraft kits. Because publicly displaying the Christian cross can get you in trouble in that country.  So that whole "political correctness" thing very much depends on the culture you're in.  It's not just an American thing.

[Daddyfink]

Now where can I get me a nice Gandhi shirt? You know, the man who was anti violence and very peaceful ......

 

[Mike_G]

 

It is from an anime series

 

Thanks for the heads-up

 

 

 

 

[Lownslow]

A BosoZoku gang in Japan also uses it 

[Joe Handley]

I'm waiting for a couple Ford wagons from the Blues Brothers movie to pop up on here now.

[Mike 1017]

Germany, Italy and Japan were part of the Axis. So I really don't think that it is too much of a stretch to see a swastika on a Jap car. http://www.tofugu.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/swastika-banner.jpg

Edited January 3, 2016 by Mike 1017

[my80malibu]

I am sure this kit is a big seller in India! 

Maybe its old outdated stock, just newly found in an abandoned train car somewhere.

[peteski]

Maybe its old outdated stock, just newly found in an abandoned train car somewhere.

Neah, there is a UPC barcode on the carton!

I grew up in Poland in the 60s and 70s and lived in a house pockmarked by WWII shrapnel.  I've been to Oświęcim (Auschwitz) and seen many first hand examples of the war damage.  I also learned the painful war history in school.    So, it is not like I'm not familiar with the atrocities of WWII.  Yet, I think this blanket ban on swastikas or other Nazi related symbolism is just going too far.   Everybody seems to be offended by everything nowadays. Swastikas are banned from model kit decals in Germany.  You'll never see a swastika on a model on a cover of any modeling magazine.  IMO, this is all part of history. If used appropriately, I don't see any problems with it. Just don't glorify the Nazi methodology.

Even the silly uses like on that ice cream in India shouldn't cause anybody to get their knickers in a twist - I have a feeling that not much premeditated thought was put into naming that ice cream.  I say: come on - lighten up.

[Draggon]

There's others like that out there.......

Edited January 4, 2016 by Draggon

[1972coronet]

Native American tribes also employed the Swastik . This is a c.1910 basketball team (Hopi , I believe) :