Yankees pitcher Tanaka as WWII Zero Pilot? Asian Journalist Group says NY Post Cover Offensive

The photo, used for the top half of the Post Jan. 23 edition, was also headlined “$155M Bronx Bomber.”

The association published a Jan. 28 letter to NY Post managing editor Frank Zini about the cover.

Zini previously had responded to AAJA’s complaint saying that the Post only published that image in “a very small number of papers” before realizing it “might be considered offensive.”  Zini’s earlier statement according to AAJA was:

“We recognized early on that an image intended to amuse and play off the Yankee nickname ‘Bronx Bombers’ might be considered offensive by some people, even though that was not our intention. Therefore, it was removed after a very small number of papers had been printed.”

Below see the cover that the Post ended up using.

The Post changed its cover after printing a “very small number of papers.” See the cover the post ended up using. (Credit: NYPost, screenshot)

However, AAJA said that was not enough. “We take you at your word that it was not the paper’s intent to offend,” AAJA said.  “However, when something that egregious is published, we believe it warrants a more direct apology.”  Further, AAJA reminded of “past racism” against the Japanese.

“We’re sure you understand how hurtful and damaging stereotypes are. Seeing Tanaka, a Japanese national, depicted in such a way conjured up hateful imagery,” AAJA stated.