The Forestry Bureau's creative forest-themed checkers set draws online criticism for resembling sex toys

Last month, the Forestry Bureau exhibited Taiwan's timber building materials at the International Building Materials Exhibition. On the day of the event, they also prepared 100 sets of "forest-themed checkers" as souvenirs. After photos of the checkers were posted online, netizens criticized their design for closely resembling the sex toy "anal plug," turning the creative product into a laughingstock. The Forestry Bureau responded that the checkers were designed to resemble tree shapes, and the public's interpretation had gone beyond the review scope.

The International Building Materials Exhibition kicked off on the 14th of last month at the Nangang Exhibition Center. For the first time, the Forestry Bureau collaborated with the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute Experimental Forest Management Office and eight domestic timber suppliers to create the "Taiwan Domestic Timber Pavilion," showcasing Taiwan's wood building materials. The Forestry Bureau also specially prepared "forest-themed checkers" as souvenirs for the opening. Ultimately, the "Taiwan Domestic Timber Pavilion" stood out among 560 exhibitors and was awarded the "Outstanding Exhibitor Corporate Image Award" based on evaluations in categories such as "product practicality and innovation," "decoration and overall feel," and "professional explanation."

Unexpectedly, some netizens later discovered photos of the "forest-themed checkers" posted on the Forestry Bureau’s Facebook fan page and pointed out that the creative souvenir bore an uncanny resemblance to the sex toy "anal plug," sparking ridicule and jokes.

In response, Li Yunzhong, head of afforestation and production at the Forestry Bureau, explained that both the forest-themed checkers and the overall exhibition design were outsourced to the design firm "Seed Design." The checkers were designed to represent three types of trees: Japanese cedar, Taiwan red cypress, and Taiwan beech. The design team had not considered the direction the public imagined, and the public's interpretation had exceeded the Forestry Bureau’s review scope. Only 100 sets of the forest-themed checkers were produced, mainly given to honored guests and attending media. Future commercialization is being considered, but the design will be slightly modified.

Mr. Chen, a resident of Taipei, commented that the forest-themed checkers appeared simplistic at first glance and bore a striking resemblance to sex toys, which was bound to make people blush. He suspected that the entire process, from design to production, lacked proper oversight, leading to the resulting embarrassment.

Mr. Chen lamented that government agencies seem to misunderstand the spirit of "cultural creativity," hastily releasing what they call forest-themed checkers. While the wooden pieces may imitate different types of trees, the design is creative yet lacks refinement. Most people can't even discern the concept the product is trying to convey. Cultural creativity should embody thoughtfulness, design, philosophy, and value—not mere imitation that ends up missing the mark entirely.