Obuchi chosen as minister only because she has child: Sasagawa

Monday 08th December, 04:05 AM JST

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sharky1 at 10:48 PM JST - 7th December

Ijime...Just pure mean spirited and jealous. Wonder how he keeps his post with this kind of attitude?
airrunwesker at 11:52 PM JST - 7th December

I havn't heard such BS and someone simply truing to tear someone down since one of the last BerryzI interviews! (Where one accused another member of ...well, I won't repeat it)! But it certainly was not C-ute!

He is childish! He should simply get over it!
Triumvere at 11:55 PM JST - 7th December

Governance!

Remind me, when is the island scheduled to sink into he sea, again?
bushlover at 01:09 AM JST - 8th December

Man this guy is starting to sound like the opposition party.
MPR21 at 05:18 AM JST - 8th December

Comment on Minister Yuko Obuchi by Sasagawa is a similar and unhealthy practice in Japan as it was done previously by other LDP associates towards the females. It is true that she is experienced and assigned the charge for the Ministry of State for Social Affairs and Gender Equality. However, making such remark publicly is very unfortunate. While it is well known in Japan that she is married and having a child.
Tatanka at 07:26 AM JST - 8th December

As some posters have pointed out, she inherited her position after her Dad died under suspicious circumstances (not at home as his wife cames he was). Did she even graduate college? Makiko Tanaka said she used to stare into a little mirror and play with her hair during Diet sessions. At least Caroline Kennedy has a law degree...
thepro at 08:51 AM JST - 8th December

We all suspected this anyway. This country is gonna get into a lot of trouble one of these days if it doesn't get some real politicians.
burikko at 10:05 AM JST - 8th December

The state minister has not power and subordinates and budget. All she can do is to sit on the chair at a Cabinet meeting. She is just symbol.
Zolt at 12:14 PM JST - 8th December

I would very much like to dismiss Sasagawa as just an obnoxious loudmouth, unfortunately he also happens to be a major power broker and one of the richest men in the LDP.

He does seem to be in a nice form this past few months, 2 sexist and one borderline racist comment worth picking up by the press.
romulus3 at 01:21 PM JST - 8th December

A native of Bunkyo, Tokyo and dropout from Meiji University,

Thanks wiki
hakujinsensei at 01:44 PM JST - 8th December

I think that Yuko has gotten a bum rap here in these comments....

She is much better to look at than Yoshiro Mori, and can not be any worse intellectually...

She graduated from a high priced private university called seijo so surely she was well schooled in the politics of privilege over performance so she should fit in well with the club in Tokyo.

And yes, she does have a kid!

Of course, the reasons for her to give birth will different greatly from the 20 million or so average Japanese women of childbearing age reticent to plan or complete a pregnancy. Beyond that, she will have not the faintest clue regarding the number one reason to pass on bearing a child, that being and atrociously high cost of living coupled with no health benefits for maternity or pre-natal care....

Hey Yuko, if you happen to stop by this sight... just a suggestions. Loose the 30 man yen rebate for a live birth in Japan and include pre-natal care and maternity care... with one stroke of the pen Japan will increase its birthrate substantially and eliminate the expense associated with your needless position.
telecasterplayer at 02:14 PM JST - 8th December

Phew! I was afraid that a month would go by without a Japanese Politician saying some ridiculously sexist crap! Check out this little gem from Sasagawa-san's wikipedia bio:

On Sept 30th 2008 as LDP General Affairs Council Chairman Takashi Sasagawa suggested that the US House of Representatives rejected the bailout plan because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a woman.

Wow! Apparently on Planet Sasagawa, having a uterus must really confound the flow of the universe!
Zolt at 02:39 PM JST - 8th December

Wiki has a few goodies but nowhere near the whole story on Sasagawa. Google a bit for his father Ryoichi Sasakawa for some interesting stories...
onewrldoneppl at 05:06 PM JST - 8th December

hmm ... at least mrs. obuchi has been able to keep her foot out of her mouth. which is more than can be said for other members of the cabinet.
ca1ic0cat at 04:06 AM JST - 9th December

I think that this fellow is rather denegrating of one of his peers. Is politics truly the last bastion of the incompetent?