Kan's wife criticizes him in new book

Only in Japan . . . .

She's obviously not a Tammy Wynette fan.

Although first lady is humorous (a kind of yoshimoto kogyo comedy character) this one has gone too far. What she has said is "sad and unfortunate" at the time when family values are declining in this unique homogeneous society.

I read somewhere she is his cousin. Is it true?

Well she seems sincere but maybe too sincere, with a wife like that who needs enemies.

Let this be a warning to all ambiguous people who consider marriage ...

I read somewhere she is his cousin. Is it true?

Yes.

(source: http://www.japanprobe.com/2010/06/08/japans-prime-minister-and-first-lady-are-first-cousins/)

. . . me thinks, it's a reflection her chronic competiveness with her husband - - - as a way to sabatage his success - - - similar to the frequent bloopers Bill Clinton made when his wife was running for Pres.

Now that is so messed up!!! If you cant get your house in order and make your family believe in you, how can you run a country??? I think Kans wife spoke the truth and realized that having Kan as a Prime Minister will further destroy Japan in the near future. Japan needs a real Prime minister that will definitely make a real change with a very strong character to fire the people that need to be fired and hire the people that are willing to make improvements andnot worry about popularity or ratings.

That is just... not appropriate. I could understand speaking in public about your worries/doubts for your husband and the position, but did you really have to write a book about it?! You should support your husband, and though I admire her honesty and courage to speak, this seems pretty low.

I think her behavior is quite normal. I often hear women speak of their partners in this manner. "He is not strong enough.", "He should do more." Etc...

I think there is a fairly common tendency in Japan for the husband to become a second class citizen and to be heavily critiqued by his spouse. Part of it may be the self-deprication that the article mentioned. But I cannot help but wonder if part of it comes from a lack of appreciation or the fact that many relationships are founded on practical considerations more than love.

I would be pretty unhappy with her for this book. True or not, she should be supporting him not burning him down in public. Terrible partner. Even if I didn't like my partner I would not do this to her in public.

He should kick her out together with her summer clothes.

I agree with all of you in a way. The women should respect their husbands in every way, especially when she is doing nothing to bring in any money to support the family. She is probably a house wife that goes to coffee shops and gossip about everyone like most Japanese women in this country.

What puzzles me is how quickly she must have written that book. Kan's term as PM is quite short and already her book is written, corrected and published ....

tkoind2-

I think her behavior is quite normal. I often hear women speak of their partners in this manner. "He is not strong enough.", "He should do more." Etc...

well, yeah, but to write and publish a book about it.. isn't quite normal.. and this actually lowers HER credibility as a first lady.

the true 40 years love comes up. Did she married because it was time and family had pushed her to do it?

It's just marketing. Make a few bucks while you can, esp. since the prior first lady did it and who can top THAT!

European1-

Did she married because it was time and family had pushed her to do it?

family pushed her to marry her first cousin???? naaaahhh... dont think so.

alladin, she is probably a housewife? Well obviously she is also now a writer, if you didn't consider that an occupation (I think it is recognized as such in most developed countries) and he book will surely add to their income if sales are fast as the publisher suggests.

Could this all be a bit of clever reverse psychology to gain sympathy? You know, come across as the average good-for-nothing salaryman because all of the voters are the same way and can relate. The Rodney Dangerfield of politics. "I can't get no respect."

I have often wondered what it would take to make me sympathetic to Kan's situation. This does. Unfortunately, it is just one more reason to doubt Kan's grip on the basics of judgment.

So I feel more strongly both ways. Poor guy having to deal with this harpy. Poor guy unable to be a good PM. He should take a long vacation... from both.

Thehedonist. Very nice, but I was thinking R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Yours is better.

Japanese culture encourages a deprecating humility

Is there an deprecating humility festival somewhere in Japan? I'd like to go to say bad things about myself.

"his failure to do any housework"

This proves that Kan is not pussy-whipped! Ha ha ha!

Actually this is the main difference between Kan and Hatoyama; Hatoyama always did the dishes after his wife Miyuki cooked her fabulous meals.

"Kan has often called his wife "the opposition at home."

Hee hee!

"Asked by reporters about the book, Kan said he was too scared to read it."

Ho ho!

let his wife to become PM.HOOOOO

Wow I would go the Kozumi route and divorce her quick and fast. Even if it this is true she has to suppose the PM (aka the first lady) and not try to sell books.

"Asked by reporters about the book, Kan said he was too scared to read it."

Scared to read a book, kick this moron out of office now please.

Yeah I would say it's a bit much for someone who is trying to run a country..to admit he is afraid to read a book, even worse, afraid of his wife,lol..guy needs b@lls!

It's like nobody here has a sense of humor. If they truly enjoy the opposition, good for them.

If he goes, I hope the next PM is Edano!!

I had a good laugh when reading this article. It sounds all so familiar. Heck, does that qualify me for PM in this country?

On the one hand Mrs. Kan’s book reveals the PM as just another salary man who just happens to fall into the PM office. And on the other hand there is a sense of disingenuousness about a “Tell All” by the wife of a sitting PM. But, more than all this maybe a message to the world that Japan is just another small island nation whose leaders are flawed and hapless; and Japan is simply finding and adjusting into a more realistic role in the world.