Japanese hotel chain under fire over anti-Semitic article

World Today

Japanese hotel chain under fire over anti-Semitic article

The owner of Japan’s APA Hotels sparked protests over his denial of the Nanjing Massacre and the existence of ‘Comfort Women.’

The Canadian branches of his hotel are accused of Anti-Semitism.  
CGTN’s John Metherell reports.

An article in the February edition of Apple Town, the in-room magazine of Coast Hotels, caused a public uproar in Canada.

The article quotes Toshio Motoya, the president of APA, equating “international finance capital” with “Jewish capital.”

Jewish organizations in Canada responded, saying these arguments were “discriminatory” and “absolutely unacceptable”.

APA Hotels has reportedly removed these controversial in-room magazines from their hotels in Canada. It is still unclear whether their hotels in the U.S. and elsewhere have removed them.

On February 7th, Motoya wrote a letter to the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, saying it was unfortunate that the article gave any impression that he had anti-Semitic beliefs

Debby Shoctor, of The Jewish Federation of Edmonton, said the article was equivalent to hate speech. Shoctor is speaking with police about whether Motoya committed a hate crime.

APA Hotels is one of Japan’s largest hotel chains with 38 properties in North America. Jewish communities in Canada have said they will closely follow this matter.