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Make climate fight 'sexy' and 'fun,' says Japan's new environment minister

72 Comments
By Matthew Green

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72 Comments
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Although my approving post seems to have disappeared, I think his heart is in the right place. Just sayin'.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Maybe he means that AKB48 should all wear their hair in plaits, dress in sweaters and scowl at everyone over 16, point accusing fingers and scowl some more... oh, and sing and dance :)

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Perhaps another Aso in the making.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Oh dear....how embarrassing. Clearly he’s not ready for this senior role as a Minister. Anyway he’s only there because it suits Abe’s strategy.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Well, how about he start by taking off his sports jacket in this heat. That would be a small but positive contribution towards making changes, right?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

He has no plans yet as to how and doesn't know how to use the term.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What a piece of work!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What a nonsense... while TEPCO tops have just been declared innocent.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Anyone purporting that nuclear power is a safe option for Japan needs educating...

0 ( +3 / -3 )

What a complete moron.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

in New York where activists plan to float a blimp showing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emerging from a bucket of coal 

I found this part of the article particularly amusing. A blimp, no doubt made from synthetic materials and floated with helium gas that is facing a future crisis level shortage and is notoriously costly and environmentally unfriendly to mine or extract.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

‘Cool, sexy and fun’

Sounds like he wants to be a bar host or maybe PM of Japan?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

EVs are still a far way from being truly “environmentally friendly.” The prices are not yet affordable enough to offset any money that might be saved on fuel costs, and the chemicals used in battery production are arguably more polluting than burning gasoline. As of now, EVs are status symbol and virtue signal for upper class persons.

But by all means, make environmental consciousness “sexy.” Super “cool biz” bikini Fridays? Electric NSX and Supra? Biodegradable condoms? Running around naked like PETA?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japanese are obsessed with sex

Yes, as compared with the rest of the world who are quite indifferent to it.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Japanese are obsessed with sex

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

A perfect example of Koizumi's proposal would be an electric GTR or Supra.

Europeans are ahead of Japanese with Porsche's Taycan EV and upcoming Ferrari EV,

You know, you had a good point, until...

both powered by Korean batteries.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Bring out the "Race Queens" and keep the politicians away.

Take a look at how Germany bolstered their solar energy capacity by setting power rates higher. Assuming Japan is serious about this.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@dougthehead13

Today Japan is a democracy precisely because the United States forced it to do so.

I wouldn't call Japan a democracy, Japan is more like a Russian-style oligarchy, where a handful of powerful families control the entire country. In no true democracy a single party stays in power for 60 years, only an authoritarian regime can do this.

There are only two true democracies in Asia, Korea and Taiwan, with India on its path to become the third true democracy.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

A perfect example of Koizumi's proposal would be an electric GTR or Supra.

Europeans are ahead of Japanese with Porsche's Taycan EV and upcoming Ferrari EV, both powered by Korean batteries.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Chip Star Sep. 23 04:38 pm JST

His family name. This is just more of the dynastic politics that have kept the offspring of war criminals and the LDP in power since the US forced democracy upon the Japanese.

Today Japan is a democracy precisely because the United States forced it to do so. And thanks to this, today any Japanese can participate in politics freely. Regardless of their social status. Whether you are rich or poor.

And there are alternative parties to the LDP. They can come to power in the future, as happened in 2009. If there has not been more alternation in power is because of the inconsistencies that often say the leaders of these parties. 

Only that a political party be formed with coherent measures. With common sense. Without ideological biases. And honestly admitting publicly that the Japanese constitution is obsolete. And proposing solutions under a basic consensus, for the good of the country. Above electoral interests. Perhaps the LDP can be defeated.

That's what I think.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

"In politics there are so many issues, sometimes boring. On tackling such a big-scale issue like climate change, it's got to be fun, it's got to be cool. It's got to be sexy too,"

[...]

"We are committed to realizing a decarbonised society, and we are ready to contribute as a more powerful country in the fight against climate change,"

As it is the only information about his speech, I do not really get why people are bashing him. He is minister of environment of Japan not of the world. He got to adjust to who he is dealing with. There is millions of young people around the world wanting a change and demonstrating for it. In Osaka, regarding the demo, I guess some idol show will be more enticing. So well, as he has got to deal with Japanese, he doesn't have much choice. For years, people in power worked hard to make the mass passive. So if the mass need a mascot to start feeling concerned, fine by me. Making them concerned by the world around is going to take a long time and is most likely to not be allowed.

For the second part, it is quite difficult to see if he is bullshitting others, bullshitting himself or downsizing "we" as the people concerned by the issue or something like that.

So I will stuck to wait and see regarding the guy. It is not like being the son of, good looking and able to speak english make you utterly incompetent.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

You folks refuse to admit he's got a point. Sure, millions of students protested. Worldwide, that's a small drop in the bucket. You want to really make change happen, you're going to need a lot more and making it actually interesting to the Twitter and Instagram generation is going to take something drastic. Maybe he chose his words poorly, but I think I understand what he meant and he's kinda right.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

A few days ago, some pro-environmental groups were chanting, "Hey hey, ho, ho, climate change has got to go . . . " Other environmentally friendly forms of energy: solar, wind, water (fall), water (wave), biomass . . . .

0 ( +1 / -1 )

On the other hand I kind of understand this. Koizumi went to a university in NY and he learned to speak in English. Since then he had been speaking Japanese in Japan. Now that he has an opportunity on the job to speak in English that is still school boy English. That happened to me too when I was young. Still embarrassing, he’s not young and he is a minister. He should have started with a translator.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Meanwhile what his government is actually doing:

the only G7 country to be adding coal-fired power generation capacity. Japan's government and banks also play an important role in financing new coal plants elsewhere in Asia.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

If we could make getting married and having kids more "sexy" and "fun", maybe more people would do it. Well, I guess if human life will be gone soon anyway due to climate change, well, never mind.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I am soooo enjoying this slow train wreck.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Yet another distraction providing no plan and no hope for anything positive. This is now a fight for survival of our civilization and our planet. Cute ideas don't stop global warming. Swift decisive actions enacting laws that reduce man made pollution and land clearing is what is needed now. Inaction will be another nail in the coffin of this world.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I found his speech excruciatingly embarrassing.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

koizumi  = stupid, cringeworthy, embarrassing...……..

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

"Let's Heartful Eco!"

What a bag of cack.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

it's got to be fun, it's got to be cool. It's got to be sexy too,"

A fluffy statement for sure, but I agree with the cool bit, in that rich countries have to move away from a model where lifestyles that involve huge amounts of consumption are presented as cool. People like the Kardashians basically going "look at me jetting about in all this bling". Even on a lower level, it's pretty universal to view stupidly big SUVs as cool and little eco-box cars as uncool. In the USA, one reason I imagine people buy guns is that they think they are cool. Guns in movies are always cool. It's only natural for people to want things presented as cool.

Some skater/snowboarder kids have a brand called "drink water" to basically fight the likes of Red Bull commercially exploiting their sports. It's a rare example of someone making less consumption appear cool.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

its a very Japanese answer, when they get out and around the world they say stuff like this, no surprises here

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Pls give the public a clear idea.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Wow. Lot of disdain here for Koizumi. So, is ABE doing such an effective job? I am with Koizumi. We need actually living feeling humans in politics, not dried up old sexless men. "TIJ" is not acceptable when faced with what Japan is confronting.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

look how cute he is, trying to be charismatic, and showing off his english skills... slowly making his way into the top spot of Japanese politics... predictable and boring if you ask me.

at the end of the day, still "giving no details" and no progress. what do we have? just people admiring his english skills, which is supposed to be a banal thing. (same old story: for a Japanese person, if you,re in the public stage, speaking english makes you a superstar. if not, it makes you just "different")

4 ( +4 / -0 )

This official is so overrated and is only riding the coat tails of his father. This concept for his ideas on environmental issues is a slap in the face to all environmental professionals.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

He failed my English test!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Tadow Pladow

Koizumi is not an idiot. He’s only slightly retarded. He seems to be in a self destruct mode ever since he became Minister of Environment.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

What an embarrassment.

This guy just embarassed the country yet the media here are hailing him for his brilliant international debut addressing the conference in good English.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

When will Japanese politicians grow up ?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Comedians are popular in Japanese politics.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

He was once considered a future PM but his 15 minutes is over. Also, Abe is good at this, taking his enemy home and give them opportunities to make mistakes. Ishiba is down, Kishi is down and now Koizumi is down. They all lost credibility to speaking against Abe. Quite a strategist.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Make climate fight 'sexy' and 'fun,' says Japan's new environment minister

Sweet mother of Jesus. I'd rather listen to an intelligent kid like Greta Thunberg than one of these politicians' sons. People might be impressed back in Japan, but this doesn't wash on the international stage.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Oh, yes! Young Koizumi leading the charge to be one Japan’s Climate Changist!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I would not say the free love generation accomplished their anti-war aims. On the other hand they did manage to mobilize a generation of protestors. Although I have never heard it stated explicitly, I think sexy and fun was part of the drive. Nay say it all you like, but hippies were not hippies so they could be serious as death all day. And the serious as death people are accomplishing what exactly? Increased CO2 emissions from whining?

Climate responsibility needs better PR and advertising. Anyone who says different has no clue.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

He had me initially and I thought just maybe...but alas what he said:

"In politics there are so many issues, sometimes boring. On tackling such a big-scale issue like climate change, it's got to be fun, it's got to be cool. It's got to be sexy too,"

He totally lost me right there!

Did he perhaps miss:

Japanese students in Tokyo were among the millions of young people who took to the streets on Friday to express the fear and outrage they feel over the failure of governments to control greenhouse gas emissions, which hit a record high last year.

Millions of students globally didn't get out there because its cool, fun or sexy. They got out there because they are angry at the old guard for doing nothing about it and simply blowing only hot air at the problem which is literally exactly what we don't need!

The only pulse I think you are reading Mr Koizumi Jnr is Taro Aso's pulse. So I guess we can simply expect a young good looking hip politician spouting key words to sound cool and relevant while doing nothing except increase your own popularity. Ahh well, to be fair, thats really all politicians are good at I guess. Running a country..nah not so much! So the wheel keeps turning at the same speed and direction. How's that for cool, fun and sexy?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

well, he's in coolbiz mode, no tie, top button undone, so that should help..... (⌒▽⌒)

2 ( +2 / -0 )

and they all travelled to New York how? talk about political theatre.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

LET'S CLIMATE!!!

Kyoto Protocol - 1997.... so what went wrong? still, now we've got the Paris Accord, so I'm sure everything'll be alright.... but even if not, there's the Thunberg-Effect, so....

3 ( +5 / -2 )

"Let's Climate Change!"

...now mascot...we need a mascot...

Humanity is heavily reliant on fossil fuels. This is not going to change any time soon. We, 6 billion, are here and healthy because of oil, gas and coal. India and China are constructing hundreds of coal-burning generators.

Despite what the MSM, the UN and "the science" reports there is, thankfully, a growing body of data, information and knowledge demonstrating that there is no "crisis" and that the powers-that-be have done a wonderful job over the past 20 years to mislead. The biggest impact on global climate: the sun. No mention of this. The climate change folks: focus on CO2. Why? because they cannot tax the sun. It is with an open mind that I undertook research on the issue. I encourage everyone to question and dig a little deeper.

But that doesn't matter, politician need to create problems to look important. Koizumi is a glorious distraction - well timed just ahead of the sales tax increase.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

More LDP cack.

This boy could go far.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

It is OK, he says what he thinks honestly and directly. Politicians when their careers get longer, the more they speak ambiguously and dishonestly in fear of negative reactions to what they say.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Sexy and fun? So, I guess this means we will have teenage girls in school uniforms dancing around yet another childish stuffed mascot.

Japan could be a world leader in alternative and renewable energies. They have many long and fast flowing rivers for hydroelectric and a never ending supply of geothermal. The irony of this is, they won't develop these resources due to environmental impact, but the coal and nuclear power are causing far more destruction to the environment.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Ah! Shinjiro Konezumi! Mickey Mouse to his friends!

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Amazing that a country with huge renewable resources but little native fossil fuel resources has done so little to utilise them and reduce the import cost and reliance on unstable governments in the Middle East.

Nuclear can be a safe part of the energy mix but only if the regulations are enforced and not using the inherently dangerous technology developed in the past primarily to produce weapons grade material. There are inherently safer technologies available which don’t produce weapons grade by products.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Good grief what an embarrassment this clown is.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

On tackling such a big-scale issue like climate change, it's got to be fun, it's got to be cool. It's got to be sexy too,

Maybe he's right. Or should the politicians be saying, "We won't solve this problem until we're all miserable, uncool, and ugly." (Visions of Abe in a coolbiz shirt.)

While climate change may not be 'fun, cool and sexy', the issue is how we address the problem. Getting the world population on board is not going to be easy. Many people won't want to believe there is a problem if the solution doesn't offer some kind of hope or opportunity. Maybe zichi's love hotel theme is not so wacky, although I'd like to think there are other ideas.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

He's really there to do a diversion. "...waste water... yep, well wait, let me sing a song before...".

 it's got to be fun, it's got to be cool. It's got to be sexy too,"

Is he going to sell a calendar with photos of him in funny sexy poses ?

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Make the climate fight "sexy and fun"?

Seriously?

A 16 years old from Sweden,Gretha Tundberg have more concrete solution about the climate and environment than this son of daddy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFkQSGyeCWg

This is the consequence to put in position sons of powerful men,these people have literally no sense of reality.

15 ( +19 / -4 )

Who the hell is his speech writer? :)

Koizumi should face and address the imminent isssue of (diluted) waste water discharge in Fukushima. Ironically nuclear power is a quick solution to global warming.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

There is nothing 'fun, cool and sexy' about climate change Koizumi. What the hell are you talking about. And what about we need the young people to understand and change things remark?

It is your party who is giving permits to companies who want to build/fire up these coal burners. How about NOT giving out and new permits and reexamining the existing ones. That would go a long way

9 ( +14 / -5 )

Is anyone else surprised that he omitted "cute"?

What a bunch of vapid ballspillage this is. Let me know when the LDP comes up with a plan for renewable energy, given that we are sitting on a geothermic, windy, sunny, ocean-wave-surrounded island.

Standard LDP words-equals-fact sh!te.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Is there anything of substance in the resume before he is so ordained?

His family name. This is just more of the dynastic politics that have kept the offspring of war criminals and the LDP in power since the US forced democracy upon the Japanese.

-3 ( +15 / -18 )

"sexy" and "fun."

Good and grief.

12 ( +16 / -4 )

We will be seeing tons of these 'Fluff Pieces.'

Even the Jurassic Park,is that what the JP in jp.com,stands for,realises that.

They know that the plebs have had enough of seeing the old toads......Aso,et al.

They have got a bit of 'eye candy' in the party......and their approval rate has shot up.

Koizumi will be in every photo shot.

After all.....who would you rather see:Aso,Abe or Suga or even more of their older brethren.

Koizumi is a handsome bloke,that plus his 'pedigree' he is golden!

The fickle Japanese voting public know no bounds.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

Can someone please get this idiot off of the world stage? Statements that lack substance are one thing; but, statements like this that make it sound like a video game are... downright embarrassing.

30 ( +34 / -4 )

Japan Today should start a Koizumi Meter: a running tally of entirely uncritical fluff pieces that heap praise on him.

If every article refers to him as a rising star without actually saying why that is, then propaganda mission accomplished.

His father was Prime Minister; he speaks English, and his fiancé is beautiful.

Is there anything of substance in the resume before he is so ordained?

34 ( +37 / -3 )

... without giving details.

Enough said.

24 ( +25 / -1 )

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