Salon’s Sign Defaced

A West Hollywood hair salon called “j.a.p.s.s.,” which has been sharply criticized by Japanese-Americans who say its name constitutes a racial slur, was hit by defacement and theft of its signs.

Shuji Kida, an immigrant from Japan and one of five owners of the salon, said Tuesday that he arrived at work to find one sign stolen and another covered with spray paint. Gray paint half-obliterated the salon’s name, and the Japanese word baka --which means “idiot”--was painted in black letters on the sign.

Kida, who has told critics that he sees nothing wrong with the name, said the incident makes him less willing than ever to consider changing it.