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Japanese porn star to feature on Taiwan travel cards to 'cheer commuters up'

The company behind the plans has vowed to continue despite protests from parents and politicians

Caroline Mortimer
Monday 31 August 2015 17:16 BST
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Yui Hatano will feature on the metro cards in September
Yui Hatano will feature on the metro cards in September (Getty Images)

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A Japanese porn actress will feature on Taiwanese travel cards in a bid “to cheer commuters up”.

Yui Hatano will appear on two limited edition cards that can be used to travel around the capital, Taipei, despite the plans being condemned by the city's mayor.

The two cards will depict the actress in a “Angel” and “Devil” poses.

Neither image will be pornographic, the “Devil” image shows Ms Hatano in a “sultry” pose whereas the “Angel” image depicts her wearing white.

But the move has caused outrage among politicians and parent groups, according to the Guardian.

Taipei’s mayor, Ko Wen-je said he did not understand why EasyCard, the company behind the plans, would “make that kind of business judgement”.

The company released a statement to the Want China Times website saying Ms Hatano was trying to improve her image and that the photos showed her in a “fresh, healthy and beautiful” light.

To call them “lewd” was unfair to Ms Hatano.

A spokeswoman said: “This set of cards is suitable to put in your wallet and collect. When you look at it, it will cheer you up.”

The “Devil” card will go on sale on 1st September followed by the “Angel” later in the month with all the proceedings going to charity.

EasyCorp was forced to recall the “Angel” cards temporarily when it emerged the image used on the cards had previously been used to promote one of Ms Hatano’s films, the Taipei Times reported.

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