I just read a recent letter by Matthew Ikenoyama regarding his dismay at having purchased “Jap” brand tweezers at Walmart. He may not have noticed that items ring up with their names abbreviated. From just this morning I have a receipt for “Crush Tom”. I can assure you that I did not crush anyone named Tom, nor would I approve of that action by anyone else. However, I now have a can of organic crushed tomatoes for our next pot of soup.
The beauty product brand Japonesque has been around for a couple decades. Mr. Ikenoyama is well within his rights to research the product and refuse to buy it from Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Amazon or any other vendor which carries this brand.
I am married into a Chinese family and have every sympathy for discrimination such as Mr. Ikenoyama’s family has experienced. But next time, please consider whether you want to purchase a product in the first place, and you may avoid offense at its abbreviation on the receipt.
Maybe I’ll purchase a can of “Tom Soup” for Halloween. But please, if your name is “Tom”, do not be offended, I mean you no harm.
Becky Yih, Park City