A wax figure of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, seen bowing apologetically and with a Hitler moustache, stands out in a display of world leaders at a mall in Shenyang, Liaoning Province on Monday. The wax figure was removed amid controversy. The backdrop recalls the 'September 18 Incident', which sparked the Japanese invasion of China in 1931. The photo has triggered controversy online, with some saying the statue is inappropriate. Photo: CFP



A wax figure of a bowing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a Hitler moustache was removed from a shopping mall in Northeast China after the mall received complaints from the Japan's consulate.



On Monday, the figure of Abe bowing apologetically was seen placed along with those of other world leaders including US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the mall in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, revealed photos posted on Sina Weibo.



A staff member at the shopping mall confirmed the removal of figures with the Global Times on Thursday. He also confirmed that the mall received complaints from the Consulate-General of Japan in Shenyang.



He told the Global Times that the statues were made by a craftsman in Dandong, Liaoning, and the mall gave him space for free to "enrich the shopping experience of customers."



The mall employee further explained that the Abe statue could not be kept straight because the statues needed electric power to straighten up, however the circuit board for the Abe statue had some problems on the first day of display.



The staffer added that the Hitler moustache was added to the figure intentionally to make sure it didn't entirely resemble Abe.



The photo has triggered controversy online, with some saying that the statue is inappropriate, while others insisting the status did not smear Abe, urging against politicization of the statues.



As for the backdrop of the Abe statue, which recalls the "September 18 Incident," the staffer explained that there was no special reference or connection between the backdrop and the statues, as the figures were placed temporarily.