picture of the day

Queens' man

26 Comments

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda poses for a photo with U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen Taylor Barfield, left, from Maryland and Japan's Cherry Blossom Queen Etsuko Tamagawa during their courtesy call at his official residence in Tokyo on Wednesday.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


26 Comments
Login to comment

Looks like he left his happy face at home.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

PM looks like is was forced to stand for this picture..

4 ( +4 / -0 )

is --> he

0 ( +0 / -0 )

BEN - that is his happy face.. Like Droopy...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

He need to iron those pants

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Not happy

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Noda could have at least stuck a flower in his hair. Just to keep in the spirit of things, like...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

What's up with the crowns? I can believe the Japanese beauty queen association (ha, ha) came up with the small crown but I can't believe the U.S. one also decided upon a similar or rather the exact same design. Were the sponsors the same or did they consult each other? I think the U.S. one should have a big crown sort of a cherry blossom motif and all. Queen Taylor Barfield is wearing a nice white dress and pearls but I don't see any nod towards the cherry blossom.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Christ cheer up Noda!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Deary me. What a confident, inspiring, fresh-faced leader he is!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Two pretty ladies, but the old guy ruins the picture.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

He's exasperated that the LDP, a party that lost the election, is blocking passage of bills his party was elected to pass.

Democracy in action!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So that's what the leader of Japan looks like....

Maybe having AKB48 run the government isn't such a ludicrous idea, after all...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

PM Noda needs a new tailor ASAP. Please button the lower button on that jacket too.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The two ladies look lovely.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

he needs to practice his smile in front of a mirror, or hire a smiling coach. Ohhhh look his belly popped open a button. He looks like the pillsbury doughboy without the smile.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I'm bored of PR crap, get me outta here! lol

0 ( +0 / -0 )

All right, I'm going to ask. Why, in the name of all that's holy, are we crowning the Cherry Blossom Queen nearly two months after cherry blossom season?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Just to be clear - the U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen is chosen at random from a group of women who have chosen to be "Princesses" for a week.

"The U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen is chosen by a random spin of a wheel of fortune by the Japan Ambassador in Washington, D.C. The following morning, the newly crowned U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen and her Japan counterpart, along with the State, Territory, and International Princesses are invited to participate in the National Cherry Blossom Parade® and the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival."

source: http://www.statesocieties.org/PrincessProgram.aspx

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well yeah, but in that same document is the following:

Since 1948, state and territory societies, as well as the international embassy community, have selected accomplished young women between the ages of 19 and 24 for their academic achievement, exceptional poise and appearance,...

I'm just saying that this might not be the "exceptional poise and appearance" they had in mind.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Noda san looks like he just got the pink slip

1 ( +1 / -0 )

All right, I'm going to ask. Why, in the name of all that's holy, are we crowning the Cherry Blossom Queen nearly two months after cherry blossom season?

...and to answer Ivan Coughalot's question, (from the same document CrysTra Taylor references):

Every year since 1973, the NCSS-sponsored U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen has been officially invited, by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association (JCBA) to visit Japan in May.

Ms. Barfield will visit with Japanese Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House, Members of the Diet, cabinet officials, and several governors when she visits Japan this May.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Noda looks very hung over.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Thanks for the comments! I'm sure he's tired from all of the things going on politically. We had a few laughs and he went back to work!

Our crowns are a replica of the larger crowns that we're actually crowned with. The US Queen receives a Mikimoto Pearl necklace and crown; both having cherry blossoms on them. The Japanese Queen receives the same crown. There are 2 Japanese Queens, but only one US.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What's up with those crowns?!

Looks like a thimble balanced on a grapefruit.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Boy....looking at this photo I remember people here posting Mrs. Clinton's outfit she wore for a photo a few weeks ago was terrible fashion. Take a good look at your prime minister and his suit, looks like he took it out of luggage and didn't even bother to press it...and who advised him on wearing that god awful tie and shoes that are not even polished. His expression is telling the photographer....hurry up...I want out of here!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites