Screengrap shows anti-Semitic comments in APA's in-room magazines. (Photo/CGTN)
Japanese hotelier APA is under fire again, this time around for publishing anti-Semitic comments in its in-room magazines. The hotel chain made a public statement in response, but said it has no intention of issuing an apology.
The incident comes on the heels of an exposé of the hotel chain offering to its guests right-wing revisionist history books, written by founder Toshio Motoya, which slam the Nanjing massacre and the forced recruitment of "comfort women" as "untruths." The books have triggered public and official backlash from China and South Korea.
The February edition of Apple Town, a subsidiary of Japan's APA Hotels and Resorts, is at the center of the public uproar in Canada. One article published in the issue quoted Motoya as equating "international finance capital" with "Jewish capital."
Motoya was quoted as saying that "Jewish people control American information, finance, and laws, and they benefit greatly from globalization because they move their massive profits to tax havens, so they don't have to pay any taxes. Many Jewish people support the Democratic Party. They are the top one percent as described by Thomas Piketty, and the remaining 99 percent feel dissatisfaction and anger towards them."
The remarks have drawn ire in Canada, with Jewish organizations labeling Motoya's arguments as "discriminatory" and calling them "absolutely unacceptable."
APA hotel has reportedly removed the controversial in-room magazines from their hotels in Canada, however it is unclear whether their hotels in the U.S. and elsewhere have recalled the magazines as well.
On February 7, Motoya wrote a letter to the Greater Vancouver Jewish Confederation, saying "It is very unfortunate that my writings gave you an erroneous impression that I hold anti-Semitic beliefs. I myself try to keep the relationship with Israeli people and look forward to continuing dialogue and promoting cultural exchange."
Debby Shoctor, the Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Edmonton said her organization is not happy with Motoya's reply, and expressed hope that he does not publish any more such articles in the future.
Shoctor said the article is equivalent to hate speech, and added that she is speaking with the authorities about whether Motoya could have committed a hate crime.
APA Hotel is one of Japan's largest hotel chains. The Hotel Group has 38 properties in North America.
Its Vancouver headquarters has not replied to a request for an interview with CGTN.
