This way

Rather than being in Paris, Prime Minister Kan should be in Japan trying to fix the problem that is occurring on a daily basis. He is just all show with no real agenda on how to fix real present day problems.

it seems the question is who wants to be the leader,raise your hand.

First time I have seen this guy smile and it looks weird.

Prime Minister Kan't

I'm a big boy now!

Rather than being in Paris, Prime Minister Kan should be in Japan trying to fix the problem that is occurring on a daily basis. He is just all show with no real agenda on how to fix real present day problems.

I can understand your sentiment, but he doesn't need to be here physically. With the advances in communication, he can go to the Japan embassy in Paris and get secure real-time updates just as if he were here in Japan.

Many people keep using that same mantra about leaders not being present. I can see if he was going on vacation and having "fun in the sun" but he is able to communicate with those he needs to without being here. Unless he was on a shovel actually doing work, I could understand.

Kan can't smile in Japan - he would probably be roundly criticised by all the LDP for not taking his job seriously (oh, the irony) or something.

What does this man have to smile about. He should hang his head in shame. Thousands of Japanese have died and many more will from the fallout of Fukushima and he is smiling and cavorting about? Truly disgusting.

He should be in Japan working toward resolving the Fukushima issue. The people of Japan and history will not look kindly upon him and his kind.

High five! No?

He is smiling about how he turned a business trip into a short vacation without letting the Japanese public know anything at all about it. He has no shame and doesn't think about anything but only himself. So sad that there are a lot of people in Japan suffering from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami while he is in Paris.

Maybe they have internet in France, too? So Kan or his assistants can keep in touch w/ Edano.

Hey I know this guy! He's someone important right? What's he doing with Hilary?

I like Kan. He is personable and looks like he cares. He is obviously not a polished career politician. He does say really stupid things because he is not one, but I trust that he is honest and wants to do the right thing.

And I like the picture. I've seen one or two the last week where he had a great smile. Makes me feel good about him.

yeah me too! I like Kan as well! It is super hard to be the PM of Japan right now! No one is going to say good job to you. He took the roll of being mocked and you need a tough soul to do that.

japan should just employ a fulltime stand-in for these sorts of events - a far more consistant image than the current merry-go-round of 'leaders' they currently send

Nice suit. Not exactly from Yofuku no Aoyama I take it.

To the silly folk who think Kan has to be in Japan you are the types who wud probably never let your staff work from home, likely dont make use of phones & insist on mostly face t face meets, ie your living in the LAST CENTURY!

In case you people dont know unless Japan starts taking care of its economic interests the fallout there will be enormous & very devastating to the whole country, in case you dont understand that means Japan has to not only take care of Tohoku/Fukushima but also its ECONOMY, and that means the PM has to be out & about keeping Japan in the spot light, pressing the flesh telling the world HEY JAPAN,WE STILL EXIST & ARE RARING TO GO!!!

Its not like the disaster just happened, now the PM & all the daft underlings, bureaucrates have to multitask their a$$es off otherwise we will be in for a lot more pain, got it!!

From what I've seen, Japanese don't use the technology available to them in an effective way, especially when it comes to business or education.

So yeah I can agree that he's probably not doing his job here if he's over there. I see @GW's point that he could still effectively do his job from anywhere using the proper tech but lets face it. I've never seen Japan's Air Force One. His ride isn't as thick as Obama's Beast. He doesn't even have Will Smith's trailer. (I'm sure it has internet).

I believe he might have the tech to communicate and run the country from abroad BUT I don't think they're using it and he needs to be at home working on the REAL problems.

Especially since we can see the manner in which Japanese communicate is WAIT till the boss tells us what to do as to avoid responsibility.

I'm a big boy now!

That just made me lose my drink.

His face just beams it.

Hillary Clinton has not aged well.

Don't really understand all the negativity about Kan "having the time of his life", living it up, etc in Europe. The Japanese PM can't just stay in Japan forever and not attend to diplomatic meetings etc. Life has to go on, business/trade deals have to be done.

I don't understand all the aggro. Would he be doing his job better, helping Tohoku and boosting the economy, if he were walking round with a face like a month of wet Mondays?

MrDog,

"His face just beams it.

Hillary Clinton has not aged well."

SO true on both counts. He is a bit too excited by the looks of him!!!

And poor old Hillary has not aged gracefully at all...

He probably has and knows how to use the tech, he just decided to switch it off. It looks like he's thinking, "Thank the gods I'm out of that hell-hole".

And no, Hillary hasn't aged too well, but she's getting up there. Also keep in mind that it seems pretty evident they are walking down some stairs, and I'm sure for many of us, looking down is not the most flattering position to be caught on camera in.

I like Kan. He is personable and looks like he cares.

Now try and convince some Japanese voters of this, Viking! They will start frothing at the mouth and likely shout profanities, such is the extreme disgust out there with the bloke! Having experienced 6 PMs here, I can safely say Kan is the gaijin favourite - he really seems to appeal to the foreigner. Shame we cant vote!

Yes, Kan should be in Europe now. Yes, Kan should be smiling now.

Country leaders have to handle multiple tasks. That is their job. They also need to show confidence. Kan is a pretty lousy leader but he's the best the Japanese politics can offer. He's no different than the other rich old guys who arrived in their positions of power through circumstance rather than through demonstrating any skill.

Crikey! Looks like Ol' Hillers has been getting stuck into the meat pies....

how many chins? what was that article about hair on jt saying?

"He~~ Hillary-san, chotto futotta ne~" "Talk to the hand Mr. Kan"

If he had a glum face people would complain. If he were in Japan with a happy face, people would complain because he should be sad and serious. If he were in Japan with a serious face, people would complain that he wasn't showing positive, confident leadership.

If he doesn't go to Tohoku people complain that he doesn't care. If he goes to Tohoku people complain that he is just doing a photo-shoot and wasting time and money.

There are worse things you can do than smile in front of a camera at a meeting that everyone expects you to be at, so give the guy a break.

Anyway, he can probably rest assured that the political, economic and nuclear experts of the Japan Today community will be keeping abreast of things here for him and giving advice where necessary...

Although I'm not a fan of Mrs. Clinton's politics, she looks good here...

Not bad for 64 plus.

Mr. Kan looks genki, too.

Oh, that Parisian air...

yasukuni: "If he doesn't go to Tohoku people complain that he doesn't care."

If it's cancelled because of a wee bit of rain, yes.

"If he goes to Tohoku people complain that he is just doing a photo-shoot and wasting time and money."

When all he does is shake hands and say, "Taihen, ne. Ganbare!" then yes.

"Anyway, he can probably rest assured that the political, economic and nuclear experts of the Japan Today community will be keeping abreast of things here for him and giving advice where necessary..."

If he would listen, Japan might just get somewhere instead of listening to the same old crooks in office who are merely looking after their self-interests and for payouts.

@Yasukuni 04:45 PM JST - 26th May

If he had a glum face people would complain. If he were in Japan with a happy face, people would complain because he should be sad and serious. If he were in Japan with a serious face, people would complain that he wasn't showing positive, confident leadership.

If he doesn't go to Tohoku people complain that he doesn't care. If he goes to Tohoku people complain that he is just doing a photo-shoot and wasting time and money.

There are worse things you can do than smile in front of a camera at a meeting that everyone expects you to be at, so give the guy a break.

Anyway, he can probably rest assured that the political, economic and nuclear experts of the Japan Today community will be keeping abreast of things here for him and giving advice where necessary...

Hohohahahahaha.... how true, how true!

Post of the day! Can't stop laughing....

Here we go again, it's easy to criticize PM Kan but "these so called JT experts" can't even suggest a better PM at this time. I still believe PM Kan is doing his job the best he can compared to his critics. Oh yeah, "empty can strikes loud!"

I can't believe it. Am I the first to comment that I didn't even recognize Secretary Clinton with her new blonde locks? First thing I thought of was Chris Farley in drag for those Gap routines he did with David Spade on SNL.

Everyone has a double chin when they hold their head in that position. If you don't, you probably have some kind of disorder and should get checked.

Hilary looks good for her age. Women over 60 should gain a little weight. When you're older, you're more likely to fall and break something, and fat helps to cushion the fall.

Also, SHE'S THE SECRETARY OF STATE. WHO TF CARES WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE?? IT DOESN'T FING MATTER. A woman's worth is NOT based on her looks.