The Release of 'Barbie' in Japan Faces Issues

The release of the film 'Barbie' in Japan has encountered more problems. An online petition in the country has urged Hollywood studios to refrain from promotional methods that trivialize the 'nuclear Holocaust.' According to Reuters, this petition has gathered over 16,000 signatures so far, calling on Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures to avoid using the hashtag 'Barbenheimer,' which has influenced the film's sales. In Japan, which will soon commemorate the 78th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the hashtag 'Barbenheimer banned' has trended, and many users have expressed their discontent with memes that combine the atomic explosion from the film 'Oppenheimer' with playful images from 'Barbie.' The film 'Barbie,' starring Margot Robbie, has grossed over $800 million worldwide, while a film about nuclear scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, released simultaneously, has earned over $400 million. Mitsuki Takahata, who voices Barbie in the Japanese version, announced on Instagram on Wednesday that she is 'disappointed' with these memes and intends to skip a promotional event in Tokyo for the film's premiere on August 11. She wrote, 'This is really disappointing.' The film has been criticized for ignoring the devastation caused by this weapon at the end of World War II in Japan, which resulted in the destruction of two major cities and the deaths of 'over 200,000 people.' 'Barbie,' directed by Greta Gerwig, is inspired by the globally recognized Barbie dolls produced by Mattel. Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Simu Liu, and Kate McKinnon are among the live-action cast from Warner Bros. Some praise 'Barbie,' while others consider it anti-male. The global box office is dominated by 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer.' The 'Barbie' mask was also mocked; conservative attacks focused on the film's 'lack of masculinity.'