Apple issued a statement denying Internet rumors and a Bloomberg report stating that its high-profile CEO Steve Jobs was stopped at Japan’s Kansai International Airport for carrying shuriken—Japanese for ninja stars.
Bloomberg had earlier quoted Japan’s SPA! magazine as saying that Jobs had been stopped at the airport in July after the scanners found the throwing stars, which are martial arts weapons, in his carry-on luggage. SPA! is also reported to have quoted Steve Jobs as saying to Japanese officials that he would never visit Japan again.
But Apple issued a short statement to reporter John Paczkowski of All Things Digital (owned by Wall Street Journal) stating that, “Steve did visit Japan this summer for a vacation in Kyoto, but the incidents described at the airport are pure fiction. Steve had a great time and hopes to visit Japan again soon.”
SPA! magazine is reported to have also published quotes from an airport spokesperson, who had confirmed that a passenger traveling on a private jet had been stopped for carrying ninja stars and told to leave them behind because of their sharp blades and possible use as weapons. But the spokesperson had refused to identify the traveler based on the airport’s privacy policy.
The report caused a minor tremor on Twitter and wry comments on Internet blogs the morning after the it was first published, irrespective of its veracity. One Twitter user commented, “Oh, Steve Jobs. We all knew you were a ninja.” Several inspired artists posted cartoon caricatures of Steve Jobs as a ninja as comments in Internet blogs.
Bloomberg had earlier quoted Japan’s SPA! magazine as saying that Jobs had been stopped at the airport in July after the scanners found the throwing stars, which are martial arts weapons, in his carry-on luggage. SPA! is also reported to have quoted Steve Jobs as saying to Japanese officials that he would never visit Japan again.
But Apple issued a short statement to reporter John Paczkowski of All Things Digital (owned by Wall Street Journal) stating that, “Steve did visit Japan this summer for a vacation in Kyoto, but the incidents described at the airport are pure fiction. Steve had a great time and hopes to visit Japan again soon.”
SPA! magazine is reported to have also published quotes from an airport spokesperson, who had confirmed that a passenger traveling on a private jet had been stopped for carrying ninja stars and told to leave them behind because of their sharp blades and possible use as weapons. But the spokesperson had refused to identify the traveler based on the airport’s privacy policy.
The report caused a minor tremor on Twitter and wry comments on Internet blogs the morning after the it was first published, irrespective of its veracity. One Twitter user commented, “Oh, Steve Jobs. We all knew you were a ninja.” Several inspired artists posted cartoon caricatures of Steve Jobs as a ninja as comments in Internet blogs.
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