Pola, a Japanese cosmetics firm has apologised for a sign banning the entry of Chinese people at one of its outlets.

This is what the offending sign looks like:

The sign is handwritten in Japanese (but which is also understandable in Chinese): People from China are prohibited from entering.

Pola's apology

Headquartered in Tokyo, Pola has some 4,600 stores across Japan, and is among the top three cosmetic companies in the country.

As of Dec 2016, POLA has expanded into markets in nine countries throughout Asia, including China.

After the incident caused a furore, visitors to the Pola homepage were greeted by apology letters in both Chinese and Japanese, dated Nov. 25:

The apology letter said that images of an "inappropriate" poster were shared on Chinese social media sites the day before, without specifying its contents or the location where it was found.

It ended by saying that they will suspend operations at the store and implement strict punishment as soon as they "confirm the facts".

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Trending on Chinese and Taiwanese social media

News of the store's alleged display of racism towards the Chinese people sparked an intense discussion on Chinese micro-blogging platform, Weibo, with most netizens expressing their anger towards the Japanese firm and swearing off their products.

Translation: To the Pola Shanghai branch, please demand the Japanese headquarters rectify the mistake and apologise to all the Chinese people!

Translation: It's not a problem for them to dislike the Chinese people but yet, like their money. Anyway, there's no lack of lowly people who'll rush to give them money.

Translation: I discarded all the Pola items in my cart, and will never buy their stuff again.

Translation: Any apology that's done out of deference to the power of money is meaningless.

Translation: Take a look at the Japanese attitude, don't even think of saying that you're Taiwanese and not Chinese. To them, there's no difference between the two, both are second class.

Feelings are mutual among Japanese netizens

It seems that the feelings are mutual for the Japanese netizens. While the incident has sparked widespread outrage on Chinese social media fuelled by Chinese patriotism, the same can be said for Japan as well.

Translation: The banning of Chinese from entering...? Somehow I can accept it. There must be a reason for it, right?

Translation: Is Pola going to be alright? I think the store is right though?

Translation: Even if one outlet denies entry, there are still other outlets available.

Struggle to extend its tourism boom

According to Reuters, this incident is one of the many that highlights lingering hostility to foreign visitors from some in Japan as it seeks to extend a shopping-driven tourism boom.

Previously, Tokyo-based hotel and real estate developer APA Group came under fire over books placed in its hotels that contained essays denying the 1937 massacre by Japanese troops in Nanjing.

Following street protests and calls for a boycott of the chain by China's tourism administration, the corporation has since temporarily removed the books from hotels hosting athletes for a sports event, but said it wouldn't do the same for the 2020 Olympics.

Top image via Weibo. 

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