Taro Yamamoto, a movie star turned candidate, stands on a beer case as he delivers a speech in front of a train station during his election campaign rally in Tokyo. Japanese will go to the polls for the upper house elections on July 21.
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13 Comments
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gaijinfo
Something tells me this guy ain't gonna get any kind of overwhelming mandate.
By the way,when did folks stop using soap boxes and start using beer cases?
No Miso
I think I spotted at least 3 "tarento" on the election boards around Tokyo. None of them (I think) are particularly "political" and just seem to be trying to improve their popularity (major fail if they get elected). I'd love to be optimistic, but....
Pukey2
He seemed like he was really affected and genuinely interested in making a change since the nuclear disaster. Not like the usual tarentos-turned-politicians who think they can get voted in purely because of their name. Not naming any judokas or "comedians". But I think his tarento or even acting days are basically over since he "dared" do something that offended his former agency. Now that takes guts in Japan. And to think this guy started off his career by prancing around like HG or that Kojima swimming trunk guy.
some14some
poor guy will lose money and continue to struggle with his current "tarento" job !
Cricky
Politics is serious, it guides us all day to day, a "talent" has just what? A dance, a funny saying? What are these "Talents" bringing to US? Nothing except costing tax payers a wage.
kppppp
I think he's doing this not for popularity, he definitely will lose his talento job for accusing TOUDEN, one of the biggest sponsor of TV world. Those of you who make fun of him should read his blog or listen to his speech just for once.
smithinjapan
And yet another 'tarento' who has no qualifications as a politician running for a political position.
Goals0
smithinjapan - Read up on him and you may learn something.
whiskeysour
Well, if his heart is in the right place and he's not a racist. I am for him !!!!
YongYang
This man puts us all to shame for he is standing up for what he believes in and has given up everything in support of that. Read up on him. Amazing MAN.
Pukey2
I quite enjoyed Battle Royale. He does have a tendency to wear tight T-shirts on TV, especially in those interview shows he used to host.
Not sure if it's true, but a friend was telling me a story of what happened when Yamamoto went to a bank to apply for an account. He filled in the form and gave it to the lady there who gave the form back to him, saying that he should write his own name and not use the name on the sample.
globalwatcher
This is a humble beginning of true democracy.
nigelboy
Perhaps it has to do with the fact that he lost in the last Lower House election.
Like most candidates and political parties with their "no-nuke" campaign, they will lose badly as evidenced in the last election.