Shoppers dismayed at company’s decision to include US president in collection given his comments about women

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A traditional Japanese doll modelled after the US president, Donald Trump, has raised eyebrows among some shoppers in Tokyo in the run-up to Girls Day, the Japanese holiday celebrating the health and happiness of girls.

The Trump doll, clad in a gold and black kimono with a golden-haired head, was unveiled on Thursday by Kyugetsu Co Ltd, which makes traditional “hina” dolls for the 3 March holiday.

The day is usually celebrated by families, who decorate their homes with the 60cm (2ft) high dolls to wish their daughters health and happiness.

Some customers expressed surprise at the company’s decision to include a Trump doll among its four new offerings for Girls Day.

Debbie Walker, a tourist from Ohio who was buying a set of dolls for her newborn granddaughter, said the Trump doll was not appropriate given his comments about women, which emerged during the US election last year.

“He is not for women or little girls, so I do not support him,” said Walker.

Saori Baba, 38, the mother of a baby girl, said she had watched Japanese television reports about Trump’s comments and it made her uncomfortable.

“I think his sexist remarks in public give an impression that we women are looked down upon. I hope he won’t make such comments any more in public,” Baba said.

Each year, Kyugetsu creates “hina” dolls modelled on four influential people: two athletes and two politicians. The 2017 offering includes Yuriko Koike, the first female governor of Tokyo.

Hisatoshi Yokoyama, senior vice-president of Kyugetsu, defended the decision to add Trump to this year’s collection.

“There is talk about his derogatory comments about women, but we made this in the hope that he will make the world better,” he told Reuters Television.

Last year, the company displayed a doll of Hillary Clinton as one of the “new leaders” expected to guide the world in 2016.