Request to Cut Interview with Disabled Employee from Japan’s ‘Itoham’ Video Sparks Controversy

From Netorabo via Yahoo! Japan

June 23 2023

JAPAN – When a restaurant that employs people with disabilities was interviewed on Itoham’s official YouTube channel, the company instructed to cut out the part of the interview with a disabled employee. The controversy stems from a post by Hiromichi Shizume, a TV producer and writer in charge of production and appearances for the channel’s project, which has sparked controversy over Itoham’s response to the situation.

It all started with an accusation made on Twitter by Shizume on June 22nd. Itoham’s official YouTube channel “Itoham Group Official Channel” has a project called “Hamham with everyone” in which Mr. Shizume and others visit various parts of Japan. According to the post, when interviewing the restaurant “Le Clos de Mariage” (Osaka Prefecture), which is working on hiring people with disabilities in this project, it is said that they were instructed to be discriminatory towards people with disabilities.

Specifically, Itoham’s public relations staff called the producer and asked them to cut the interviews with employees with disabilities. “Don’t touch it and introduce it as a normal restaurant.”

When Shizume and others protested against the instructions, Itoham proposed another revision, but Shizume said, “The (initial) instructions were too shocking and discriminatory against people with disabilities. So I felt resentment,” and refused to continue the production. In addition, Shizume complained, “I think it’s terrible discrimination,” and demanded an explanation and sincere remorse from Itoham.

Regarding this matter, Tamaki Tsuda, a producer who belongs to the production production “TV Man Union”, who received a call from the public relations staff of Itoham, said on June 22, “I am really surprised that discrimination against people with disabilities occurred at the production site. Together, I feel sad and angry. The world is still tough.I respect people with disabilities who are fighting.

Itoham Yonekyu Holdings’ Public Relations & Investor Relations Office public relations team responded in an interview with Netorabo saying, “We are aware of the content posted on SNS.” Regarding the facts and the intention of the instructions, he commented, “Currently, we are in the process of confirming the facts with the producer and our company’s person in charge.”