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Air Jordan 12 “Rising Sun”
Originally Launched: 2009
Reason for Controversy: Flag Design
The Air Jordan 12 ?Rising Sun? caused controversy for its flag sporting insoles. Intended to tribute the Japanese flag that inspired the original design, the insole imagery was deemed offensive by Korean and Chinese retailers/consumers that viewed the flag as a symbol of Japanese imperialism and tension between the countries. This commotion disrupted the release date of the shoe, though many pairs had been shipped and some already sold. Jordan Brand recalled the flagged soles, destroyed them, and swapped them out for a simple branded alternative that outfitted the vast majority of released pairs.
