Weighty issues for Osaka Gov Hashimoto

Osaka gov Toru Hashimoto has been under pressure from city officials and local politicians due to his radical reform policy for the prefectural government. Hashimoto is working to reduce the prefecture’s 2 trillion yen debt.

Hashimoto has been working out at the gym to help relieve the political pressure and stay in shape but after a local assembly member asked him why he was using an official car to take him to and from the gym, the governor gave it up.

But the governor’s staff say the stress and lack of exercise are taking a toll on Hashimoto who is putting on weight. One insider says, “He’s been extremely busy and has to sit in his office all day. He doesn’t even have an opportunity to walk much anymore. Moreover, he has been eating fast food like bento and having food delivered to him.”

An employee of the prefectural government’s legal office says Hashimoto has gained 10 kilograms since he was elected governor in February and now tips the scales at 80 kgs.

Since Hashimoto often appeared on TV as a celebrity lawyer before he was elected governor, he cares how he looks, said one of his staff. Now, though, his weight has become the subject of jokes on local TV programs.

Well, say his critics, as long as Hashimoto is trying to trim the budget deficit, maybe he should start by trimming his own waistline. (Translated by Taro Fujimoto)

9 Comments

PrinceskaNo1 at 09:34 AM JST - 25th July

Stress and gain weight are related...poor guy, I hope he manages to control his weight, otherwise he will drown in a sea of dispair. I heard there are two scary things for Japanese men - being overweight and being bald.
Altria at 09:52 AM JST - 25th July

He should get a treadmill and shower installed in his office, and have his flunkies bring him some Subway or vegetable sticks.
thepro at 12:04 PM JST - 25th July

Good like to him fighting the old dinosaur bureaucrats. That debt won't be changing if they keep all lining their pockets.
delitachan at 12:24 PM JST - 25th July

That's pretty mean of his critics. The guy is doing his best to get things in order there in Osaka and it's bad enough people are starting to give him hell for his weight. Get real. A lot of Japanese people do not exercise at all. If he started frequenting the gym more, the criticsm would focus on how he spends more time on personal hobbies than office issues. Geh.
papasmurfinjapan at 12:33 PM JST - 25th July

I bet he's wondering "how the hell does Sonomanma Higashi have so much time to fit in his almost nightly TV appearances?"

At least he seems to be taking his job seriously which is a good sign.
tokyotom at 02:28 PM JST - 25th July

agree with papasmurf, no kidding, that miyazaki dude seems to be on every wide show in tokyo, albeit pushing miyazaki stuff, but also keeping his own mug in the publics eye for continuing his career after he gets dumped in the next election
chardk1 at 03:25 PM JST - 25th July

I don't much care for Hashimoto but the man has a right to stay in shape and maintain his health, he has seven or eight kids for crying out loud.

What Japanese call "karoshi" is not caused by "overwork" it is caused by a combination of poor diet, no exercise, smoking, drinking AND overwork. It's stupid to pretend that Japanese men just work too hard and disappove of people taking obvious preventative measures.
borscht at 08:35 PM JST - 25th July

I think as governor he should have told the critic who complained about him using a city vehicle to take him to the gym to shove it. (Was that great sentence or what?). He's the effing governor of the city for crying out loud! I bet he even has a city car pick him up in the morning at his house to take him to work. Big deal. The critic should hit the weights with him. Then they can do business and work out at the same time.
some14some at 03:44 PM JST - 26th July

However good may be Hashimoto's intentions, he will hardly achieve any targets...Why? Because ruling party(Heavy-weight) has supported Hashimoto but not his policies.