The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters announced Monday a banner ad will be taken down in New Chitose Airport south of Sapporo after the Ainu Association of Hokkaido, a group made up of the indigenous people in the prefecture, criticized its wording.
The banner is one of four that were hung in the airport's departure lobby. Measuring 5.5 meters by 2 meters, it shows Fighter manager Hideki Kuriyama and the slogan, "Hokkaido is the land of pioneers."
Many Ainu see the development of Hokkaido by Japanese coming from the south, which began in full force during the Edo Period, as a negative event in their history since it marks the beginning of suffering for their ancestors, who were driven out of their homes.
"If Ainu people see this banner, they would feel like crying," said Kazushi Abe, deputy director of the association. "We want one of the four banners withdrawn."
According to sources, officials of the baseball team visited the association Monday and said the banner would be withdrawn immediately.
A team official said over the weekend there have been "differences in interpretation" over the banner.
"We used the slogan to express our intention to challenge our athletic limits and carve out a new path," the official explained.
The other three banners in the airport carry different slogans. One shows popular pitcher Shohei Otani and the slogan, "The land that nurtures talent as much as you like."
The banners went up in June. They are scheduled to remain on display until January.
