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The prime minister's everyday schedule is usually carried in daily newspapers, often in a small column in the political section. However, weekly magazine Shukan Shincho (Nov 6) claims that Prime Minister Aso intentionally misleads the media about his schedule.
“Based on the press club agreement in the cabinet, Kyodo News and Jiji Press are allowed to follow the prime minister's car. When Aso goes into a hotel, they ask his secretary what he is doing there,” a political reporter for a major newspaper tells the magazine. “If the secretary lies to the agencies, then nobody has any idea about what he is actually doing there.”
For example, the secretary often tells reporters that Aso is by himself, when in fact, he is often meeting politicians of opposition parties.
The political reporter adds, “On the night of Sept 28, which was just after his appointment as prime minister, Aso told us he was meeting with his secretary at a hotel. But he was actually having a meeting with LDP politicians. I don't know why Aso tries to conceal these details which will be revealed anyway.”
The magazine says Aso likes to cover up the fact that he has confidential conversations by telling the media he is meeting with his secretary. It quotes one LDP politician: “It makes no sense. DPJ Acting President Naoto Kan tells the media when he meets Aso, while Aso says he was meeting a secretary. It's rare for a prime minister to lie that much.” He adds, “Aso possibly thinks nighttime is his private time and he doesn't have to tell the media what he does and where he goes.”
© Japan Today
13 Comments
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Betting
I think political reporters should actually ignore the guy, not go to his briefings, scheduled media events etc. After a while, he'll be chasing them!!
Nessie
He should blame his secretary. In this case, it actually might be true for once!
Harry_Gatto
I'm with Fredster on this, it is funny and, is much more interesting than the usual stuff on the PM.
Samuraiiki
These Jappanzees got too much time in their hands trying to find out everything their neighbors are doing. To make the story short, they have no life of their own, so they want to live somebody else's lives. Hats off to Aso. Those stalkers are just that media stalkers.
Stephane Dauzat
“Aso possibly thinks nighttime is his private time and he doesn’t have to tell the media what he does and where he goes.” That pretentious fart of a journalist seems to think Aso and the whole world revolves around him.
If a country's prime minister can't have a bit of confidentiality when conducting business, who can?
soldave
At nighttime, he's at an izakaya pointing fingers at carefully chosen university students (if the picture of the day from last week is anything to go by).
Statistician
Politicians. If they will lie about one thing they will lie about anything.
RakishGadfly
Aso is only doing this in order to protect his secret nocturnal activities fighting crime as AsoMan.
Fredster
This is hilarious... Aso is intent on not kowtowing to the media and they have been throwing a bit of a tantrum lately about this trying to get him to show "respect" to them because they think they are all powerful - HA...
This is the 3rd story in as many days about complaints from the media that Aso is not "playing" the game that they want him to play... Look for the stories to start to get nasty as they try to bully public opinion into forcing Aso into doing what it is "they" want...
Keep bobbing an weaving Taro... I love to see these little crybaby reporters in Japan whine because their story might actually call for some reporting visa-vie asking questions - investigating - paying off the bell-hop... Get off yer fat lazy backsides and do some actual reporting rather than counting on press releases to write the story for you...
Nemakemono...
BlackFlag
hahahaha, really
thepro
He wants to keep his nap time hidden. All these 70 year old politicians in Japan must get exhausted.
Simon_Foston
No he doesn't, if he isn't working late or attending a function in an official capacity. I see journalists here are just as prone to opening their mouths without turning their brains on first as politicians.
some14some
Daytime PM (between sunrise and sunset)?!