NIKE JAPAN VIDEO SPARKS FURIOUS BACKLASH ONLINE

A Nike Japan video highlighting bullying and racism in Japan has sparked furious backlash online, with many posting pledges to boycott the sportswear brand for painting the nation in a negative light, according to Kyodo News.

The two-minute video titled "The Future Isn't Waiting" shows three young female mixed-heritage soccer players who overcome discrimination by building confidence on the field.

The Japanese-language video released on the YouTube channel and Twitter account of the Japan affiliate of U.S. apparel giant Nike Inc. in late November has racked up over 10 million views and over 16 million views on the respective platforms as of Monday.

The video on the YouTube channel has been liked 85,000 times and disliked 65,000 times in the same period.

Nike Japan said the stories are based on real experiences of athletes which inspired the company to make the video. The sportswear company said the production is aimed at encouraging all athletes in Japan to break down barriers they face.

In the video, a girl who has a black father stands forlornly as she is singled out and teased by classmates for her curly hair. She is shown reading a comment online questioning whether three-time Grand Slam-winning tennis player Naomi Osaka, who was born to a Japanese mother and a Haitian father, is American or Japanese.