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Nippon TV Announcer Apologizes for Using Forbidden Term for Mixed-Race People

Nippon TV Announcer Apologizes for Using Forbidden Term for Mixed-Race People

Nippon TV announcer Erika Tokushima was recently reprimanded and made to apologize for using the forbidden term “ai no ko,” which means hybrid and crossbreed but is also a derogatory term for a person of mixed race.

The term “ai no ko” was historically associated with a discriminating sentiment, but it isn’t commonly used today to describe people. However, during one of her news reports, the announcer Tokushima used the term while talking about a new concept store that combines a supermarket and a convenience store.

Social media was flooded with messages about Tokushima’s remark, saying, “Um, Tokushima-san, is it okay to use the term ‘ai no ko’?” “Did Erika Tokushima just said ‘ai no ko’!?” “Did she just say ai no ko? That’s wrong,” and “You can’t say ai no ko!”

Nippon TV Announcer Apologizes for Using Forbidden Term for Mixed-Race People

According to the 14th edition of the Journalist’s Handbook, the term “ai no ko” is considered derogatory, much like the term “konketsuji” (mixed-blood child). The handbook suggests writers describe mixed-raced people as, for example, “their father is Japanese and mother German,” instead.

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