A Japanese zoo that caused a furore by naming a baby monkey after Britain's Princess Charlotte has been told to stick to its guns by the local mayor after two days of fraught debate.
Mt Takasaki Wild Monkey Park in Oita was flooded with complaints after announcing Wednesday that the public had voted for a newborn macaque to be called Charlotte, just days after Britain's royal family named its newest member.
With the story making headlines around the world on Thursday, the zoo offered an apology for any offence caused to the daughter of Prince William and his wife Kate.
READ:
Japanese zoo rethinking 'Charlotte' for newborn monkey
More than 500 people got in touch with the monkey park over two days to voice an opinion on the name, with early correspondents urging them to drop it.
"Initially opinions were mostly complaints saying it is disrespectful to the British people, then voices supporting the name began to increase, with some saying it was okay because the baby monkey is cute," an official in Oita, southwestern Japan, said.
As the controversy raged online, on television and in the newspapers, local officials even sought the opinion of the British embassy in Tokyo -- who offered no comment -- before Mayor Kiichiro Sato ended the confusion with a definitive ruling.
"I think the public gave it the very pretty name Charlotte, and I don't think there is any problem with it, so we'll go with Charlotte," Sato told reporters.
Japanese society places great emphasis on not offending anybody in an effort to maintain "wa" or harmony. This frequently results in the kind of paralysis of the decision-making process -- two days of debate -- witnessed here.
Mt Takasaki Wild Monkey Park asks for suggestions for the name of the first macaque monkey born every year.
This year's poll, in which 853 votes were recorded, saw a sudden surge of people suggesting "Charlotte" after the British princess was named earlier this week.
Complainants said it was disrespectful to name a monkey after a foreign royal, with some suggesting that Japanese people would be offended if a British zoo used the name of a member of Japan's imperial family for one of its animals.
But commentators on the websites of major British newspapers suggested the locals were made of sterner stuff.
"Seriously, who cares? Name the next one George (the name of Charlotte's elder brother). It's of zero consequence to any of us," wrote user Zeeeel on theguardian.com
It is not the first time an animal has been named after the issue of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge: during a royal tour of Australia last year, then-months-old baby Prince George visited Sydney's Taronga Zoo to meet one of its bilbies -- a kind of marsupial -- that had been named in his honour.
AFP
Fri May 08 2015
![Japan mayor vows no name change for Charlotte the monkey Japan mayor vows no name change for Charlotte the monkey](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-05/61430985203_295x200.jpg)
Mt Takasaki Wild Monkey Park in Oita was flooded with complaints after announcing Wednesday that the public had voted for a newborn macaque to be called Charlotte. - File Photo
[Data & Statistik] Prestasi ringgit setakat 17 Julai 2024
Ketua Ekonomi Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid berkata tumpuan pasaran telah beralih ke arah pilihan raya presiden AS menjelang November nanti, yang menunjukkan kebimbangan terhadap Donald Trump berikutan dasar ekonominya yang akan memihak kepada pemotongan cukai dan pengenaan tarif terhadap China.
Niaga AWANI: [Hutang kerajaan persekutuan meningkat] Cabaran antara jimat atau langkah rangsangan
Perdana Menteri pada Selasa umum hutang kerajaan persekutuan meningkat kepada RM1.22 trilion berbanding RM1.17 trilion. Apakah cabaran mengurus hutang ini untuk memasihkan ia kekal di bawah had statutori? Adakah dasar fikal kita masih utuh?
![Pemuda berat 183kg kini tinggal 99kg Pemuda berat 183kg kini tinggal 99kg](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721175184_Pemudaberatkgk.jpg)
Pemuda berat 183kg kini tinggal 99kg
Dia melalui episod kehidupan yang panjang untuk mendapatkan berat terkini.
![Minat risiko ketara, ringgit dibuka mengukuh berbanding dolar AS Minat risiko ketara, ringgit dibuka mengukuh berbanding dolar AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/81709006000_RINGGIT.jpg)
Minat risiko ketara, ringgit dibuka mengukuh berbanding dolar AS
Ringgit mengukuh sedikit berbanding dolar AS pada sesi awal urus niaga Rabu ketika minat terhadap risiko kembali ketara.
Jiwa SME: Sabun Pro One Active sasar perluas pasaran global
Sabun Pro One Active tidak menggunakan sebarang lemak haiwan dalam pembuatannya selain ia mesra pengguna dan alam lantaran ia bercirikan biochemical.
Niaga AWANI: Potensi sebenar AI Generatif dalam sektor kewangan
Kecerdasan Buatan Generatif (Generative AI) adalah teknologi yang semakin mendapat perhatian dalam sektor kewangan. Ia menawarkan potensi besar untuk meningkatkan produktiviti, kecekapan, dan ketepatan dalam pelbagai aspek perkhidmatan kewangan. Apakah langkah yang boleh diambil Malaysia untuk membina infrastruktur yang baik bagi menyokong penggunaan AI generatif dalam sektor kewangan?
![Bas terjunam ke dalam cerun ragut 23 nyawa di Peru Bas terjunam ke dalam cerun ragut 23 nyawa di Peru](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721173567_tbbusplummetsoffc.jpg)
Bas terjunam ke dalam cerun ragut 23 nyawa di Peru
Kemalangan itu berlaku di lebuh raya Los Libertadores di Ayacucho di selatan-tengah Andes.
Niaga AWANI: [Transisi tenaga] Cabaran besar menanti Malaysia
Fokus perubahan tenaga yang Malaysia mahu laksanakan hadir dengan cabaran yang besar dan memerlukan bukan sahaja iltizam politik, sebaliknya sistem utuh dan kerjasama pelabagai pihak khususnya sektor korporat.
AWANI Pagi: Keselamatan kebakaran dalam pemasangan panel solar atas bumbung
[LANGSUNG] Fokus #AWANIpagi 17 Julai 2024 8.30 pagi,
Diskusi 8.30 pagi Rabu bersama PgB Muhamad Zahin Ishak, Pegawai Cawangan Perakuan Keselamatan Kebakaran, Bahagian Keselamatan Kebakaran, Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia membincangkan antaranya langkah-langkah keselamatan utama yang perlu diambil semasa pemasangan panel solar atas bumbung untuk mengurangkan risiko kebakaran.
Diskusi 8.30 pagi Rabu bersama PgB Muhamad Zahin Ishak, Pegawai Cawangan Perakuan Keselamatan Kebakaran, Bahagian Keselamatan Kebakaran, Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia membincangkan antaranya langkah-langkah keselamatan utama yang perlu diambil semasa pemasangan panel solar atas bumbung untuk mengurangkan risiko kebakaran.
![Guna AI, sunting gambar rakan wanita jadi bogel Guna AI, sunting gambar rakan wanita jadi bogel](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721173465_tblelakiditahanAI.jpg)
Guna AI, sunting gambar rakan wanita jadi bogel
Media tempatan melaporkan, sekitar 20 wanita telah diubah gambar mereka kepada foto bogel.