Monday May 21, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Kan's wife criticizes him in new book

Arts & Culture Jul. 27, 2010 - 05:00AM JST ( 33 )

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33 Comments

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bcbrownboyJul. 27, 2010 - 06:08AM JST

Only in Japan . . . .
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thehedonistJul. 27, 2010 - 06:14AM JST

She's obviously not a Tammy Wynette fan.
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some14someJul. 27, 2010 - 06:54AM JST

Although first lady is humorous (a kind of yoshimoto kogyo comedy character) this one has gone too far. What she has said is "sad and unfortunate" at the time when family values are declining in this unique homogeneous society.
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maxpowerJul. 27, 2010 - 07:53AM JST

I read somewhere she is his cousin. Is it true?
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VelvetRosettaJul. 27, 2010 - 08:02AM JST

Well she seems sincere but maybe too sincere, with a wife like that who needs enemies.
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kyokenJul. 27, 2010 - 08:29AM JST

Let this be a warning to all ambiguous people who consider marriage ...
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kyokenJul. 27, 2010 - 08:33AM JST

I read somewhere she is his cousin. Is it true?

Yes.

(source: http://www.japanprobe.com/2010/06/08/japans-prime-minister-and-first-lady-are-first-cousins/)
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semperfiJul. 27, 2010 - 08:42AM JST

. . . me thinks, it's a reflection her chronic competiveness with her husband - - - as a way to sabatage his success - - - similar to the frequent bloopers Bill Clinton made when his wife was running for Pres.
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alladinJul. 27, 2010 - 09:42AM JST

Now that is so messed up!!! If you cant get your house in order and make your family believe in you, how can you run a country??? I think Kans wife spoke the truth and realized that having Kan as a Prime Minister will further destroy Japan in the near future. Japan needs a real Prime minister that will definitely make a real change with a very strong character to fire the people that need to be fired and hire the people that are willing to make improvements andnot worry about popularity or ratings.
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kokorocloudJul. 27, 2010 - 09:50AM JST

That is just... not appropriate. I could understand speaking in public about your worries/doubts for your husband and the position, but did you really have to write a book about it?! You should support your husband, and though I admire her honesty and courage to speak, this seems pretty low.
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tkoind2Jul. 27, 2010 - 09:55AM JST

I think her behavior is quite normal. I often hear women speak of their partners in this manner. "He is not strong enough.", "He should do more." Etc...

I think there is a fairly common tendency in Japan for the husband to become a second class citizen and to be heavily critiqued by his spouse. Part of it may be the self-deprication that the article mentioned. But I cannot help but wonder if part of it comes from a lack of appreciation or the fact that many relationships are founded on practical considerations more than love.

I would be pretty unhappy with her for this book. True or not, she should be supporting him not burning him down in public. Terrible partner. Even if I didn't like my partner I would not do this to her in public.
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electric2004Jul. 27, 2010 - 10:11AM JST

He should kick her out together with her summer clothes.
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cracaphatJul. 27, 2010 - 10:42AM JST

Indicative of the declining moral fibre in women today.The world is so wrong.
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alladinJul. 27, 2010 - 10:45AM JST

I agree with all of you in a way. The women should respect their husbands in every way, especially when she is doing nothing to bring in any money to support the family. She is probably a house wife that goes to coffee shops and gossip about everyone like most Japanese women in this country.
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kyokenJul. 27, 2010 - 11:58AM JST

What puzzles me is how quickly she must have written that book. Kan's term as PM is quite short and already her book is written, corrected and published ....
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fishyJul. 27, 2010 - 12:16PM JST

tkoind2-

I think her behavior is quite normal. I often hear women speak of their partners in this manner. "He is not strong enough.", "He should do more." Etc...

well, yeah, but to write and publish a book about it.. isn't quite normal.. and this actually lowers HER credibility as a first lady.
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European1Jul. 27, 2010 - 01:06PM JST

the true 40 years love comes up. Did she married because it was time and family had pushed her to do it?
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im3ngsJul. 27, 2010 - 02:41PM JST

It's just marketing. Make a few bucks while you can, esp. since the prior first lady did it and who can top THAT!
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fishyJul. 27, 2010 - 03:04PM JST

European1-

Did she married because it was time and family had pushed her to do it?

family pushed her to marry her first cousin???? naaaahhh... dont think so.
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tokyotalesJul. 27, 2010 - 04:20PM JST

alladin, she is probably a housewife? Well obviously she is also now a writer, if you didn't consider that an occupation (I think it is recognized as such in most developed countries) and he book will surely add to their income if sales are fast as the publisher suggests.
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NoripinheadJul. 27, 2010 - 05:19PM JST

Could this all be a bit of clever reverse psychology to gain sympathy? You know, come across as the average good-for-nothing salaryman because all of the voters are the same way and can relate. The Rodney Dangerfield of politics. "I can't get no respect."
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Klein2Jul. 27, 2010 - 06:38PM JST

I have often wondered what it would take to make me sympathetic to Kan's situation. This does. Unfortunately, it is just one more reason to doubt Kan's grip on the basics of judgment.

So I feel more strongly both ways. Poor guy having to deal with this harpy. Poor guy unable to be a good PM. He should take a long vacation... from both.

Thehedonist. Very nice, but I was thinking R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Yours is better.
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Mark_McCrackenJul. 27, 2010 - 09:08PM JST

Japanese culture encourages a deprecating humility

Is there an deprecating humility festival somewhere in Japan? I'd like to go to say bad things about myself.
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SargeJul. 27, 2010 - 11:11PM JST

"his failure to do any housework"

This proves that Kan is not pussy-whipped! Ha ha ha!

Actually this is the main difference between Kan and Hatoyama; Hatoyama always did the dishes after his wife Miyuki cooked her fabulous meals.
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SargeJul. 27, 2010 - 11:29PM JST

"Kan has often called his wife "the opposition at home."

Hee hee!

"Asked by reporters about the book, Kan said he was too scared to read it."

Ho ho!
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realmindJul. 28, 2010 - 07:10AM JST

let his wife to become PM.HOOOOO
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gogogoJul. 28, 2010 - 10:07AM JST

Wow I would go the Kozumi route and divorce her quick and fast. Even if it this is true she has to suppose the PM (aka the first lady) and not try to sell books.
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gogogoJul. 28, 2010 - 10:08AM JST

"Asked by reporters about the book, Kan said he was too scared to read it."

Scared to read a book, kick this moron out of office now please.
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VelvetRosettaJul. 28, 2010 - 10:14AM JST

Yeah I would say it's a bit much for someone who is trying to run a country..to admit he is afraid to read a book, even worse, afraid of his wife,lol..guy needs b@lls!
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sourpussJul. 28, 2010 - 11:52AM JST

It's like nobody here has a sense of humor. If they truly enjoy the opposition, good for them.
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TuxedoMichaelJul. 28, 2010 - 01:40PM JST

If he goes, I hope the next PM is Edano!!
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gonemadJul. 28, 2010 - 08:17PM JST

I had a good laugh when reading this article. It sounds all so familiar. Heck, does that qualify me for PM in this country?
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apple407Jul. 29, 2010 - 10:47PM JST

On the one hand Mrs. Kan’s book reveals the PM as just another salary man who just happens to fall into the PM office. And on the other hand there is a sense of disingenuousness about a “Tell All” by the wife of a sitting PM. But, more than all this maybe a message to the world that Japan is just another small island nation whose leaders are flawed and hapless; and Japan is simply finding and adjusting into a more realistic role in the world.