Aso among 9 leaders to speak with Obama on phone

Friday 07th November, 09:13 AM JST

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Latest 15 of 23 Total Comments Show All

bebert at 01:38 PM JST - 7th November

Might have been nice to have called the President of Pakistan. Let him know he doesn't plan to invade.
whynothow at 01:52 PM JST - 7th November

3 questions.... yeah? And? So what?
VoXman at 02:37 PM JST - 7th November

oooo the dear leader, the great hopiate spoke with a mere motal like Aso?
shonanbb at 02:43 PM JST - 7th November

ASO speaking English on a phone? I doubt it was a very good conversation. I am a very good speaker of Japanese and using a phone is still one of the most difficult things to do in this language to other Japanese speakers, especially if they try to speak English to me. Very frustrating as I cannot see them pointing at their noses or pushing their glasses up with their middle fingers. Face to face Aso will probably be able to deal with it but will need a translator right there for sure.

---Good luck Obama. Intelligent and hopefully wise and productive.
tzvete at 04:09 PM JST - 7th November

It's an usual procedure,right?Why should it be news?
Nessie at 05:15 PM JST - 7th November

'Congratulations, you are first kokujin president'

LOL, Pro, you've nailed it in one! I would say that Aso added "Be very very care in you unsafety biorensu kantorii, Mr. Kokujin Purejidento Obama-sama."
soldave at 05:23 PM JST - 7th November

What Aso failed to realise was that he was speaking to Nocchi - the Japanese Obama "lookalike"!
ImperiumMundi at 05:38 PM JST - 7th November

obama grew up in hawaii, where the largest single ethnic group is japanese-american.
TokyoVP at 05:43 PM JST - 7th November

Aso, eager to garner political points, calls Obama:

Aso: Hello, Mr. Obama, this is the Prime Minister of Japan.

Obama: Yes, Prime Minister Aso, how are you?

Aso: I want to talk about our common values between Japan and America.

Obama: ...ehh, excuse me, Mr. Aso, I believe the connection is bad...

Aso: Moshi, moshi...
CaptDingleheimer at 01:00 AM JST - 8th November

Aso: "Mista Obamasan, can you use Japanese chopsticks?"

Obama: "Yes, I can."

Aso: "ええええ、すごいね！ Can you eat Japanese sushi?"

Obama: "Yes, I like sushi quite well."

Aso: "ええええ、すごいね！ Do you know Japan has four seasons? Japanese four seasons very famous!"

Obama: "Yes, I figured it does. Illinois has four seasons, too."

Aso: "うそ！えと... oh, rearry? Sank you bery muchi, Mista Obamasan. Good ruck presidento."

Obama: "Arigato."

Aso: "ええええええ！！！　　日本語じょうず！”
ScottishThug at 07:12 AM JST - 8th November

Will Aso still be PM when Obama is sworn in? 50-50.
onewrldoneppl at 09:09 AM JST - 8th November

i heard the italian president was making racist jokes about obama the other day, to the italian media. i'm sure prime minister aso cannot do much worse. unless he pulls a nakasone.
Apollo634 at 02:27 PM JST - 8th November

I thought President Elect Obama recognized the city of Obama in Nagasaki Prefecture...am I wrong? I seem to remember a news story about a letter he sent to Obama City, Nagasaki. I visited that town in Nagasaki Prefecture. Please help me out...
Spanishwoman at 11:27 AM JST - 9th November

Obama said he would like to build a personal relationship with Aso and said that he feels a strong affinity

I have heard that in Japan, one must be "pure blood" Japanese to be a politician, that is, your grand-grandparents must be Japanese on both sides, or something similar. Can anyone confirm this?

Because Obama would have been automatically discriminated if that were the rule in USA, as his father was from Kenia. I wonder if he knows about this, and I hope the Japanese lawmakers consider this rule twice and change it for the sake of Human Rights.
cleo at 11:42 AM JST - 9th November

Spanishwoman -

You heard wrong. there is no such rule. As in other countries, you have to be a citizen of the country you want to be a politician in. There is no rule about 'pure blood'.

Marutei Tsurunen, born in Finland of Finnish parents, took Japanese nationality in 1979, became a local politician in 1992 and a member of the National Diet in 2002.

There is no rule for Japanese lawmakers to consider changing.

Moderator: Back on topic please.