Lululemon apologizes for using Japanese drum at Great Wall of China yoga event

Lululemon has issued a public apology for using a Japanese drum during a promotional yoga event staged on China’s Great Wall, which triggered a social media firestorm.The Canadian athleisure company said it failed to show cultural sensitivity for the event, which was held at the end of May and featured Chinese actor Zhu Yilong.Critics said the instrument used at the event resembled a Japanese taiko drum, a barrel-shaped percussion instrument traditionally played with large sticks in ensemble performances.The Chinese dagu, which was not used, is a broad category of traditional Chinese drums with distinct designs and performance styles.“Due to limitations in our professional knowledge, we were unable to identify potential controversies,” Lululemon said.It also said it “should have been more cautious and thorough,” and has removed “all related promotional content.”While Lululemon did not specify the drum’s origin, the company emphasized that the event was intended to celebrate Chinese culture.“We deeply value the feedback received and recognize that we should have been more thoughtful and sensitive in our planning and review process for the drum performance,” the statement continued.“This has been a valuable learning for us, and we extend our sincerest apologies.”The backlash reflects longstanding sensitivities in China toward Japanese cultural symbols, which can quickly become flashpoints online amid lingering tensions between the two countries.As a result, symbols perceived as Japanese often draw heightened scrutiny in China, particularly during high-profile cultural events.In a statement posted on Weibo, one of China’s largest social media platforms, Lululemon apologized to both Zhu and the public after criticism spread online.The controversy erupted after online commentators questioned the origin of the drum used during the Great Wall event.

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