politics

Protesters in 3 cities criticize Aso over sexual harassment comments

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He's 77 years old and should be put out to pasture ASAP! He has been, and continues to be, an embarrassing part of Japanese politics for decades. He's got to go!

14 ( +21 / -7 )

77.

Should better retire and enjoy gardening in the countryside

9 ( +14 / -5 )

Oh great so now there's #withyou now as well as #metoo? C'mon, getting a bit out of hand now.

This guy IS a loser, though....

-10 ( +5 / -15 )

all he did was ask a hostess to kiss him in a nightclub.

-13 ( +9 / -22 )

Nothing surprising. With this kind of guy, it's if but when he will say something stupid.

I wish he would just go away.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

all he did was ask a hostess to kiss him in a nightclub.

Do you even take the time to read the article?

The comments appeared to downplay the gravity of claims that then-Vice Finance Minister Junichi Fukuda had made sexually suggestive comments to a female TV reporter.

When does a female TV reporter become a hostess?

A man alleged to be Fukuda can be heard saying in an audio clip released by the Shukan Shincho magazine, "Can I give you a hug?" and "Can I touch your breasts?" Fukuda stepped down after the accusations were reported by the magazine but continues to deny them, according to the ministry.

And you say THIS is proper dialogue or behavior for a vice-minister?

7 ( +14 / -7 )

Aso suffers from chronic foot in mouth syndrome!

13 ( +14 / -1 )

YubaruToday  07:59 am JST

And you say THIS is proper dialogue or behavior for a vice-minister?

Dango bong seems to be unaware of what the vice-minister actually did or said.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

He's 77 years old and should be put out to pasture ASAP! He has been, and continues to be, an embarrassing part of Japanese politics for decades. He's got to go!

Wishful thinking, unfortunately this guy has so much friends, power and money. He said so many idiotic things in the past and look he is still here ugh

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Didn't he Pledge, urge, and wish for equality, another fail, economy Minister blocks any tobacco measures, makes light of sexual misconduct and blames the victim. Hail the protesters they are doing more than the government are.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Aso, a 77-year-old former prime minister who is known for making controversial remarks, came under renewed criticism after saying on Friday that there is "no such thing (crime) as a sexual harassment charge."

WHAAAA?????

Wishful thinking, unfortunately this guy has so much friends, power and money. He said so many idiotic things in the past and look he is still here ugh

Yeah, but this is going to be ANOTHER nail in Abe's and hopefully the whole LDP's coffin, so maybe there is a silver lining in there somewhere. Abe's not too popular, and this buffoon is close to him, so he's only hurting Abe and the conservatives even more, which is always a good thing.

Its not all that long ago when this arrogant Aso buffoon suggested the elderly should "hurry up and clear out

Considering he was a spring chicken of 70 something at the time...

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Aso - old, old money filthy rich, powerful and connected. Combined with his sense of arrogance and entitlement and you have a ready made Japan Hater.

That's right. The Japan he loves is Brand Nippon-Kaigi. A powerful elitist cult desiring to create a bygone Japan in their own image.

By far the majority of the citizens of Japan are just trying to eke out a living - the same people Aso consistently shows no respect for. His flippancy towards the ordinary Japanese has been breathtaking at times. 

That's why he's a True Japan Hater.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

> bonesToday  08:21 am JST

Aso suffers from chronic foot in mouth syndrome

I would say it’s quite more advanced than chronic...ACUTE foot in mouth syndrome.

A salary man plucked off the street could do a better job than any of these guys running this country...Ireally mean that!

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Deputy PM, Financial Minister, at 77 with no plans to retire, I'm guessing he spends more than he earns or gouging. Sounds familiar. Can't read basic kangi, wants the Jdf to shoot gaigin who appear off shore, blames the victims of sexual assault because they asked for it. Nice guy if you're a Nazi loving woman hating old man.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Saw him once at Tokyo station about to board a Shinkansen in the most outlandish and brash pale blue suit with this massive hat that was straight out of a James Cagney movie. It’s was pure gangster. Had the walk and all. Couldn’t believe my luck. With all the body guards it was quite the spectacle. Puts this article into context now. A dinasour living the dream.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

This excuse of a man has no redeeming features. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth into a family associated with slave labour and a dirty history. He is rotting away in all senses of the word, and still he clings to dear political life. Retire already.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Funny too that in the US now when these guys get caught they are apologizing, crying, promising to do better.

Er, have you not been watching US news for the past 18 months?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

It was just last week when Aso said the problem with the harassment complaint is that it was filed on a single sheet of paper and the font is too small!

Good work Aso, you've outdone yourself again!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Like this will make him do anything but grow more defiant. He won't resign -- not over anything as stupid as women demanding he do it when they should be in the kitchen anyway (his way of thinking, not mine!), and at BEST he'll "retract" his remarks, calling it regrettable people reacted that way.

The ONLY way Aso is going down is if he is seen to seriously threaten Abe's chances to win re-election and change the Constitution. All that said, it is refreshing to see the women out in full power, and I hope this grows and paralyzes things until they change.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I am not surprised. He is a Trump of Japan.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Having taken the the time to reflect I find it strange that the Financial boss of Japan has not retired at 77 if anyone could plan a retirement surely it would be the Minister of Finance? Or am I missing something. Maybe he doesn't have enough slaves.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I guess his generation considered "hitting on women" just a manly thing to do. Times have changed. Women are no longer men's pets.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It is true that "sexual harassment" is not a crime under Japanese law, unless the act coincides with forced intercourse or forced indecency. Everyone in Japan knows this except some of the foreigners here. And LDP law makers are now working on criminalizing "sexual harassment" for whatever definition it may be.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

"He wasn't downplaying anything. He simply said that sexual harassment is not as bad as murder or sexual assault."

And murder is not as serious as mass murder, but if someone in your ministry murdered someone, that's not necessarily the best thing to say.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Old gits like this are really needing to retire from public life... and as for the asking the hostess for a kiss... that's just creepy.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

zichiToday  03:08 pm JST

Needless to say, demotion within a private company is not a criminal punishment.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

So I'm guessing that Aso may have spent a lot of time in Kabukicho hostess clubs when he was younger. Much younger.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

If this LDP government didn't have enough on its plate, scandals, US trade disputes, President Trump forthcoming summit with a Pyongyang dictatorship, that's potentially the political equivalent of walking into a gin trap. Finance Minister Taro Aso inexplicably chunters out loud ,....... "No such thing (crime) as a sexual harassment charge, it's not the same as charges of murder or sexual assault,".......

Why, if there is an audio clip in the public domain of Vice Finance Minister Junichi Fukuda allegedly requesting "Can I touch your breasts?" whilst in the company of a female TV reporter?

I do believe Agatha Christie wrote..... If a person does not develop wisdom with age, his or her foolishness, is all the more obvious and shameful........

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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