Japanese tourists unfazed by Peace Centre cafe named after China-Japan island spat.
Singapore, February 15, 2013
A catchy restaurant name, pegged to a heated international dispute, is now under wraps.
A red cloth covers the signboard hanging above Diao Yu Dao cafe at Peace Centre in Selegie while the restaurant management thinks of a new
and less controversial name. The name Diao Yu - the Chinese version for the name of a group of islands which China and Japan both claim
ownership over - was being investigated by three agencies as a possible infringement of the advertising code late last year. One of the three
agencies, the Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore (Asas), said a clause in the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice states that
advertisements "should not exploit or fuel conflicts relating to national problems and controversial policies or issues". Its chairman, Dr Tan Sze Wee,
told The New Paper: "Asas learnt from the relevant government agency that the registration of the name has not been approved.
Not approved
"As all advertisements in Singapore have to be legal, it would mean that the cafe cannot advertise the name. "
The police and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) had also stepped in over the cafe's moniker.
Checks by Acra showed that the cafe is registered by a company known as Onion Restaurant and Bar Pte Ltd, but they were issuing invoices under
the name "Diao Yu Dao". This was a breach of Section 144 of the Companies Act , which requires the name and registration number of companies
to appear on their invoices. A police spokesman said the matter is being investigated. Japan's name for the group of islands in the East China Sea
is Senkaku. Tensions have been high between the two Asian economic giants over the islands in recent times, with tough talk from politicians on
both sides as well as boycotts of cross-border events. Even with the shop name now under wraps, business has been brisk. When The New Paper
visited the cafe at lunchtime on a weekday, just over half of the 100-seater cafe was filled with patrons. The cafe's walls are heavily decorated with
photographs, maps and graphics of the disputed islands, and information about their history and the competing claims. Customers, however, were
more focused on the food and affordable prices that the cafe offers. The cafe, with its adjoining bakery, sells Hong Kong fare like Chinese desserts
and local delights such as curry chicken and nasi lemak. Japanese customer Shinobu Naka, 36, who was visiting Singapore late last month said:
"It's a complicated problem. Japan says it's theirs and China says it's theirs." She had stopped by the cafe for lunch while waiting for her name
cards to be printed at Peace Centre. She said: "But the cafe's decorations don't affect me. I'm here just to eat laksa." Regular customer
Yogi Baby Matthew, who is in his 60s, says he frequents the cafe daily because of the good food and friendly staff.
The publisher, whose office is nearby, said: "Business has picked up, and the cafe is about 80 per cent full at lunch hour."
Though it opened in October last year, business was slow for the first two months.
The cafe's manager, who declined to be named, confirmed the improved business.
Vietnamese student Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, 21, visits the cafe about three times a week.
The Kaplan institution student said: "Our school is nearby, and the food here is really good."
Several Japanese tourists who were dining in the cafe were oblivious of the decorations.
Japanese businessman Takumaru Sakalibara, 35, noticed the lengthy essay on the islands on one of the walls only after he was done eating.
He had popped into the cafe as his hotel was nearby, on Bencoolen street.
"I think it's interesting and humorous. I don't mind at all," he said.
