Since 1957, the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization (JIPDO), has awarded its coveted “G-Mark” for good design to products that reflect “excellence in terms of their design or function.”
In addition to the prestige obtained from being accorded such recognition, manufacturers are entitled to display “G-Mark” stickers on such goods, further serving to boost sales.
There are apparently a few ambiguities regarding what types of products are, or are not, deemed eligible; so when the time came in late August for the 2006 judging, JIPDO found itself on the horns of a dilemma. As reported in the Yomiuri Shimbun (Sept 2), although the product entry by a manufacturer of adult sex aids had made it to the second round of judging ? which included going on public exhibit ? the company was abruptly advised that its display was no longer welcome. The reason given by JIPDO was “we (cough, ahem!) have no means of testing (the product’s) performance or function.”
So says a September 4, 2006 report in Crisscross News.
(Thanks to investigator Mark Schreiber for bringing this to our attention.)