Cheer up

Explanation is necessary. Why is the boy wearing a transparent plastic bag and playing with toilet paper?

Missing: Looks like a register receipt roll. The plastic bag may be due to blood splatter for the operation on his hand. I am more concerned with the hat and the metal probe. He is an Orthodox boy though. Do you know how to tell? It is quite easy.

Would it have something to do with another bloody operation he had earlier in life, most likely not performed in a medical facility?

Well, today I can't complain that JT is once again directly promoting PM Abe. This time only by association.

That situation would not cheer me up.

Nice to see politicians smile at children, maybe they can sell weapons to them then everyone can simile,

Very cute child!

warispeaceJan. 19, 2015 - 04:22PM JST Well, today I can't complain that JT is once again directly promoting PM Abe. This time only by association.

Prime Minister Abe could have saved a family of four from a burning barn and you would still try and find fault in his actions. But, if a Communist politician spat upon him you would praise them for their actions and claim that is was covered under freedom of expression.....Je Suis Charlie, the bane of every extremist!

Why is the word "hypocrisy" appropriate whenever your far left side tries to justify their actions or posts?

Truth is the bane of all extremists!

Readers, please focus your comments on the photo.

Explanation is necessary. Why is the boy wearing a transparent plastic bag and playing with toilet paper?

Maybe he's in the burn center. But I'm not sure that he's playing

ModeratorJan. 19, 2015 - 06:38PM JST Readers, please focus your comments on the photo.

My apologies, Prime Minister Abe's wife is being an outstanding person I just wish that everyone in the world would care for children as Mrs. Akie Abe does!

Imagine if people would look past religions, race, color and creed and just focus on the people! What a beautiful world it would be!!!!!!!!

But, some people just can't. Hope that one day people will!

Prime Minister Abe's wife is being an outstanding person

To know if she is being an outstanding person, we'd have to look at her volunteer record before these hospital visits became part of her official duties as the first lady.

Yes! Imagine if people would go beyond using simplistic political labels such as communist and extremist if someone has a different point of view from them. "What a beautiful world it would be!!!!!!!!"

I don't think 'Cheer Up' is a very appropriate title for the photo.

The poor boy looks like he needs more than Mrs Abe to cheer him up.

Some answers to your questions:

MissingCylonModel Why is the boy wearing a transparent plastic bag and playing with toilet paper?

Plastic bags or plastic wrapping are put on victims of thermal burns. The reasoning behind this is to prevent bacteria from getting into the burns that are covered with a gauze. Its somewhat like incubating. Keeping the body warm and covered while changing the gauze often can help the burns heal faster and with less scaring. You can find articles about this if you look up plastic wrap as wound dressings for thermal burns in google.

Why is the child playing with toilet paper? Closer inspection of the photo will show that that roll is indeed NOT toilet paper. Most likely it is gauze stripping that is in a roll and cut in to pieces.

What is MOST likely happening is Mrs. Abe had an opportunity to help the nurses with the gauze, or to see how it was done on small children who are burn victims.

The wives of politicians who visit these types of places don't just sit and smile at these poor kids with the hopes of a photo opportunity. They actually have to do some work - like watching how medical procedures are done or helping these kids in some way shape or form as indicated by a nurse or caretaker.

Bless Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's wife, Akie Abe. If you look closely, the poor child appears to have burns on his face and has protective covering over his back and chest. His hands could be recovering from surgery. This is hard for any mom to see, but she visited the child and took the time to be friends with him. God Bless You AKie Abe!

This is a hospital. This cute boy's right hand is covered with some kind of bandage. Glad Ms Akie visited the hospital to meet patients there. That kind of injured children, Only war torn countries she can vis Over there, chi;dren in hispita;s will attend schools in hospita;/ t.he hand. He must be trying to practice his hand. She is humanitalian first.

If what Akie Abe did was from her heart, she would do it quietly and not need to make it into a photo-shoot opportunity with the picture passed around to friendly media sites like JT.

@warispeace

It is very likely that she is not doing it completely without any ulterior motive. But almost every human action is like this. We want to do good things and we and to get acknowledged for it. Not everyone is a total saint… and even if she does it only in order to boost up her husband image or what not, if the children also benefit in the process, I think it's okay.

@kikuman

The children would probably benefit more if she stayed home and the money used to pay for her trip and her entourage was just given as a donation the children's education. How much lasting benefit do they really get from a bunch of strangers showing up and smiling for the camera?