Government spokesman retracts remark about Michael Jackson's complexion

Saturday 27th June, 05:40 AM JST

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presto345 at 03:47 PM JST - 27th June

It seems that the Japanese have no idea about the power of words.

This remark smacks of ignorance. Politicians all over the world are often human and known for blurting out their thoughts, only to retract them later. This is not at all reserved for Japanese politicians.
ANOTSUSAGAMI at 04:12 PM JST - 27th June

I knew it... I knew that MJ's death would cause idiots to come out of the woodwork talking about "Blackness" or lack thereof. Somepeople can concentrate on nothing else. RIP Michael.
realist at 04:23 PM JST - 27th June

Not only has the Japanese Government`s mouthpiece Kawamura "little knowledge" about Michael Jackson, in uttering these completely unbelievable remarks, but he and his fellow LDP/Soka Gakkai friends have also "little knowledge" about the real world.

Where do they dig these morons out of? What sort of education have they had? Do they ever look at news outside of Japan? Do the live on another planet?
BeaverCleaver at 07:56 PM JST - 27th June

ANOTSUSAGAMI- "I knew that MJ's death would cause idiots to come out of the woodwork talking about "Blackness" or lack thereof."

I think I am the only one who said "blackness".

"Somepeople can concentrate on nothing else."

Ahem. It is what the article is about. Just trying to figure out if we should punch the "condemn" button, and I am thinking "no", not to either man.
ANOTSUSAGAMI at 09:19 PM JST - 27th June

I was referring to you as well as the Chief Cabinet Secretary. Remarking on his pigmentation by saying he didn't think of him as a black man qualifies as speaking to his lack of "blackness". I think it's rather tasteless of those who would make light of the issues in Michael Jackson's life that led him to become what he was at the end. Not saying the Chief Cabinet Secretary did, but others do and have, even here.
OssanAmerica at 12:08 AM JST - 28th June

How old is this "government spokesperson" to not know that MJ is Black regardless of how his more recent photos may appear? Furthermore, how does black/white even come up when all the J-govt has to acknowledge is " an American pop star"?
PepinGalarga at 12:26 PM JST - 28th June

Sometimes Ignorance is just as bad as Racism.
UnagiDon at 09:02 PM JST - 28th June

The only thing surprising about this idiotic comment is that it wasn't Aso himself who said it.
smithinjapan at 02:02 AM JST - 29th June

I love the 'retracting' remarks part, as though they were never said.
rogerbentham at 09:22 PM JST - 29th June

jackson's a white man, whatever.
katsu78 at 02:11 PM JST - 1st July

The problem as I see it is not that the spokesman was mistaken or didn't personally know about MJ. It's that he felt comments on his race were worth putting in a government press conference and Japan's top spokesman is making press conferences about topics he is not informed about, and isn't bothering to make himself informed. He's probably got a whole office of staff working for him. Surely someone could have drafted a simple statement with nothing objectionable in it to keep him from going off the cuff.
knackerz at 06:05 PM JST - 1st July

So, some old Japanese guy thought that a guy with a narrow nose and white skin was white? Looks like MJ fooled a few prople.
Nessie at 07:01 PM JST - 1st July

Jackson's ghost: "I resemble that remark!"
saborichan at 11:41 AM JST - 2nd July

Why was he talking about MJ at all? No need.
SebastianFlyte at 12:54 PM JST - 3rd July

This guy is just plain stupid, that is why he is in government.