Agriculture minister Matsuoka commits suicide; leaves 6 notes

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/suicide-adds-t...

We`ll have to wait and see whether this signals the end of farm lobby distortion of the free market and the welcome inflow of cheap foodstuffs to benefit the hard put upon Japanese consumer.

The end of the Ancien regime symbolism of Matsuoka following in the footsteps of the diehard superpatriot Korechika Anami is hard to beat.

 

Clearly the timing of his suicide could not be any worse or more ironic for Abe and his cabinet.
Just last week they proposed a major overhaul of the education system -- with one of the major elements being making morality a graded course for middle and high-school kids.
And, then the next Monday, one of Abe's most trusted ministers, and one he continually backed during this scandal, offs himself because he did not want to come clean with the public.
I think Abe and his whole cabinet need to take the cram school course on morality before they start forcing it on the kids.
Becauase they are failing miserably -- nice example they set.

 

what a p*ssy!
This was right next door to my office yesterday.. cars, cameras, eggbeaters everywhere!

 

He decides he can't face the implications of what he has done so causes deep heartache and problems to those all around him. Particularly his wife.

Then he leaves this note "Only my wife knows the inside details." which will almost certainly result in questioning / pressure to her in this time of hardship for her.

 

He decides he can't face the implications of what he has done so causes deep heartache and problems to those all around him. Particularly his wife.

Then he leaves this note "Only my wife knows the inside details." which will almost certainly result in questioning / pressure to her in this time of hardship for her.

 

I don't think that he exactly deserves congratulations for not going on a gun or knife rampage, do you? You seem to be normalising such behaviour by making comments like that

 

ones will not have their maybe ill-gotten property confiscated - Matsuoka may be a hero in that aspect. Or so they may not be compelled to spill more dirt to besmirch those they owe obligations

 

He doesn't have any shame.

 

But, well said.

 

This is one of the few things I like about Japan: Corrupt officials can't take the heat and commit suicide to save face. Along with the Toyotas and Sony cameras, we need to export this fantastic bushido spirit to places like China, Taiwan, Korea and Indonesia, teaching those corrupt morons what dignity and proud is about.

 

And soon! Matsuoka's buddy Shinichi Yamazaki fell/tripped yesterday and is no longer with us.

Ishihara
said it was a Samurai act

 

I am a little surprised to find an web blog some anti-Japan Korean blogger wrote: Mr. Matsuoka's suicide was a proof that Samurai spirit still survives in Japanese mental structure. If a Korean is placed in the similar situation, he/she would take flight abroad with all the money he has or retire into religion. It's quite rare for a Korean to choose death. The Japanese seem to have an aesthetics of death.

I personally feel that the Abe's cabinet has been encumbered with Mr. Matsuoka's scandal these several months pending the election of he House of Councilors. Who knows Abe might not be relieved in a way now?

 

frontandcentre, I wasn't trying to "normalize" the act; however, it seems that when a Japanese gets bullied or pushed around or pissed off, they take their own life. Elsewhere, however, (for example, in the US), a person gets bullied, pushed around and/or pissed off, they take out their co-workers/class mates.

 

One positive side of this is perhaps his little "Sushi Police" pet project may fall by the wayside.

 

That's the problem with most politicians. They just end up hanging around all day and doing nothing else.