They just posted on twitter they're going to change this illustration and have remove it as of now. I think people are saying they're going to remove the pipe, as it's implying she smokes. Can't have lolis smoking, that's a bad look.

GoldSaw said:

They just posted on twitter they're going to change this illustration and have remove it as of now. I think people are saying they're going to remove the pipe, as it's implying she smokes. Can't have lolis smoking, that's a bad look.

It's no loli though, too booby to be a loli.

GoldSaw said:

They just posted on twitter they're going to change this illustration and have remove it as of now. I think people are saying they're going to remove the pipe, as it's implying she smokes. Can't have lolis smoking, that's a bad look.

seems like someone got the idea it was for smoking opium, and china's history with that is something that needs little commentary. it's apparently supposed to be a flute/whistle of some sort, but... {actually, looking into stuff, it really does look like an opium pipe. I see their point.}

(but look at her rigging, she's smoking even without a pipe...!)

Unbreakable said:

It's no loli though, too booby to be a loli.

FYI

[Ship Introduction]
Destroyer - Kimberly
While she follows orders calmly and obediently and does not show much emotion, she is actually...?

The reason she looks older compared to her Fletcher-class sisters might be her history serving as An Yang in the Eastern Radiance.

-Z- said:

seems like someone got the idea it was for smoking opium, and china's history with that is something that needs little commentary. it's apparently supposed to be a flute/whistle of some sort, but... {actually, looking into stuff, it really does look like an opium pipe. I see their point.}

This.
The original design doesn't even have holes on them, so I have some seriously doubts on whether that was a "flute" to begin with.
My guess is the artist was going for a long-stemmed smoking pipe, and was too lazy to google it, or too ignorant.
I'll spare you the conspiracy theories, which I actually believed to be the case, but let's not turn this comment section into a shithole of flying cuckoos.

GoldSaw said:

Can't have lolis smoking, that's a bad look.

Actually, its no smoking for anyone because that is bad influence, according to China's ministry. For example, Girls Frontline's Thompson artist wanted to draw her smoking (mentioned in her artbook entry), but for "reason that can't be named" it was changed to pocky.

-Z- said:

seems like someone got the idea it was for smoking opium, and china's history with that is something that needs little commentary. it's apparently supposed to be a flute/whistle of some sort, but... {actually, looking into stuff, it really does look like an opium pipe. I see their point.}

(but look at her rigging, she's smoking even without a pipe...!)

BarefeetChaser said:

This.
The original design doesn't even have holes on them, so I have some seriously doubts on whether that was a "flute" to begin with.
My guess is the artist was going for a long-stemmed smoking pipe, and was too lazy to google it, or too ignorant.
I'll spare you the conspiracy theories, which I actually believed to be the case, but let's not turn this comment section into a shithole of flying cuckoos.

It's definitely an opium pipe. Bamboo/wooden stem with a metal fitting used to attach the characteristic opium bowl (for vaporizing the opium over a lamp). I mean, sure, it doesn't necessarily have to be used for opium-smoking, but it's definitely isn't used for tobacco (you burn tobacco, not vaporize it).

This will definitely give a double-take to any Chinese person (who at least have a passing familiarity with their roots). Having Happy New Year on the top just adds to the unfortunate implications.

(Imagine a Kwanzaa poster with fried chicken and watermelon. It's kinda like that.)

I chalk it up to (severe) cultural ignorance on the part of the Japanese artist.

Edit: Huh, apparently the artist is Taiwanese. My bad.

...And now the (PRC) Chinese forums (e.g. Saraba1st) are filled with jokes taking potshots at the ROC armed forces.

NNescio said:

It's definitely an opium pipe. Bamboo/wooden stem with a metal fitting used to attach the characteristic opium bowl (for vaporizing the opium over a lamp). I mean, sure, it doesn't necessarily have to be used for opium-smoking, but it's definitely isn't used for tobacco (you burn tobacco, not vaporize it).

This will definitely give a double-take to any Chinese person (who at least have a passing familiarity with their roots). Having Happy New Year on the top just adds to the unfortunate implications.

(Imagine a Kwanzaa poster with fried chicken and watermelon. It's kinda like that.)

I chalk it up to (severe) cultural ignorance on the part of the Japanese artist.

In which case, why is this even released?

I mean, isn't there SOME kind of contact with the head office before they produce things like this? It's hard to believe there wasn't a rough draft idea passed around to get approval before a finished product is posted on Twitter with their branding all over it.

Controversial design aside, she'll probably get a retrofit, considering her IRL counterpart did get modernized (DDG918 An Yang).

NWSiaCB said:

In which case, why is this even released?

I mean, isn't there SOME kind of contact with the head office before they produce things like this? It's hard to believe there wasn't a rough draft idea passed around to get approval before a finished product is posted on Twitter with their branding all over it.

Well, I'd imagine if the editor/PR manager isn't familiar with how an opium pipe looks like, said staff member will probably just go "Huh, weird-looking flute/pipe hybrid" and leave it at that.

NNescio said:

It's definitely an opium pipe. Bamboo/wooden stem with a metal fitting used to attach the characteristic opium bowl (for vaporizing the opium over a lamp). I mean, sure, it doesn't necessarily have to be used for opium-smoking, but it's definitely isn't used for tobacco (you burn tobacco, not vaporize it).

This will definitely give a double-take to any Chinese person (who at least have a passing familiarity with their roots). Having Happy New Year on the top just adds to the unfortunate implications.

(Imagine a Kwanzaa poster with fried chicken and watermelon. It's kinda like that.)

I chalk it up to (severe) cultural ignorance on the part of the Japanese artist.

Edit: Huh, apparently the artist is Taiwanese. My bad.

...And now the (PRC) Chinese forums (e.g. Saraba1st) are filled with jokes taking potshots at the ROC armed forces.

No matter what that is for originally, it is sure as hell stained by opium, like Roman salute or toothbrush moustache. The historical insensitivity is what truely rubs people the wrong way.
The artist couldn't bother to look up for like one second on the internet, and the editor is seriously not doing his job well.
To make matter worse, given the artist's origin and the rather intense relationship that has been lasting for a few years, there are quite a few reasonable speculations with malicious intent flowing around.
Nevertheless, the PR guys are handling it rather nicely. Let's hope this shit gets blown over in a couple weeks.