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© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Abe apologizes for snapping at lawmaker in Diet
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SenseNotSoCommon
True colours shining through.
Yubaru
Seems like dear leader needs anger management counselling.
DeDe Miura
Things are heating up for Shinzo kun...tummy ache is starting...
dbsaiya
Abe the idiot, Japan's true leader with no sense of decorum. So much for his policy of empowering women.
Aly Rustom
He apologized???
Have to call the local spiritual leader and ask if hell has frozen over....
BertieWooster
Oh dear!
Abe's been forgetting to take his meds!
Maybe he'd better abdicate now before he gets another "tummy ache" (euphemism).
sidesmile
I see sizeable stomach ulcers on the horizon!
DeDe Miura
I will humbly deal with the situation from now on...hahahahahahahahaha
kiyoshiMukai
It must be hard for Abe to be dealing with people that talk like "ohh increase casualties for Japanese troops". What are we gonna do? Stay safely in oir homes without defending ourselves?
crustpunker
It must be hard! I agree! Abe is obviously a gentle and caring person that values his citizens as a top priority! (not just the wealthy ones) It seems fair that he would get upset over a question that was taking too long to ask. He is a very busy man after all and, it was being asked by a woman so..
And, yeah! Japan definetly has enemies constantly waiting to attack all the time. We definetly need to defend ourselves from all of the potential invaders.
Living Memory
I hate Abe. I hate him like I hate spiders, mosquitoes and ticks.
But, seriously, how long does it take to ask questions? Does the opposition plan to stop Abe with the weight of words alone? What are our heroes the opposition doing to stop this monster? Having natto for breakfast and talking too much to spread the smell around?
I would thank Abe if I thought for one second this would move them to less talking and more action.
Nobusaki
It's good to see him acknowledge his mistakes but people need to be more understanding of the heavy burden and responsibilities of a Prime Minister. It is a stressful job and sometimes it can get the best of you...especially when you're being heckled while addressing the issues.
Some responsibilities of PM Abe includes:
-Economy -Tension between South Korea/China -Aging population -Trades -Education -Job Security
Don't tell me none of you all have been stressed out at work and have snapped at somebody because we all have done it.
nath
I guess Robert's Rules of Order don't translate well.
pointofview
Why is there a story about the apology but there was no story on the actual event? Strange.
nath
None of us are the leader of a country. It's his job to not snap at people, and if he can't control his emotions enough to not do so, it doesn't bode well for the country under his leadership.
John-San
Only Great people can admit their errors. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is surely a Great person and a great representation for Japan. Natto to the Japaneses is like Vegemites to the Australian. You do have enjoy natto or vegemite but Natto its uniquely Japanese and to badly criticise is to be cultural bias.
Kenneth Gardner
I like Abe. Who do you want up there instead, Mr. Potato Head? A politician has got to be able to respond to critics and idiots, sometimes sharply. If need be, he needs to be able to fend off attackers with his hands and feet. This is a very strong and wise ruler that Japan has now. In the last 3 months, the Nikkei has surpassed the Dow to soar past 20K. The Yen has weakened just enough to make exports soar to pay for the monetary stimulus. This guy is a genius. Japan will be declared the #1 economy in the world this summer. You guys need to do a real re-think of this man. Abenomics is taking Japan into a new era.
souka
Now, that is better than crying to the cameras.
crustpunker
Japan is a very old tradition. It is well known that Japanese people in general, tend to be very emotional and are not afraid to express themselves directly and to the point. For those complaining about Abe's percieved outburst. I think perhaps you need to remember the country you are living in and be more sensitive.
nath
If this is sarcasm, it's a little too dry to tell. Can't tell if you are serious (and therefore entirely wrong) or not.
trinklets2
@point of view, that's the point why everyone has to pay NHK dues. Haven't you watch one of those parliamentary meetings on TV? He is the most powerful man in the land and he's just human too. Nice to know there are posters like John san and Kiyoshi. Yes, the most powerful man is apologizing and surely he's a great man!
SenseNotSoCommon
Strangerland,
methinks crustpunker refers to long term Japanese residents of Italy
NathalieB
I think Crustpunkers previous (and fairly brilliant) retort to Kiyoshi is a bit of a giveaway on the answer to that SenseNotSoCommon
NathalieB
Sorry! I mean Strangerland!
Nobusaki
Believe or not, Prime Ministers are prone to making mistakes and showing a bit of emotion is good in knowing that Abe is passionate at what he does. I agree that the way he conducted his emotions is inappropriate but that is due to poor misjudgement of the situation. However, I would rather have a leader who shows emotion as well as repentance for his wrong doing. Abe is a human being too and I think we are taking this issue way too far and focus on matters that are more important.
nath
I agree, it's not like this is something he should resign over. But regardless, it's not appropriate as the Prime Minister, and is a rightful black mark on his record.
Repentance, yes. But his method of showing emotion was inappropriate.
Asakaze
It seems that some people's hatred of Abe affected their common sense.
So, what we've got? During a Diet session which is supposed to be in a brisk, businesslike manner, it took one MP several minutes to do a simple thing - ask a question. So the prime minister intervened, asking the MP stop stalling the work of the Diet and ask the question. What's wrong with that? Abe did the right thing.
cevin7
'Not to behave badly just because people watch you.' & 'Blaming others while you do same things as they' Both are equally poor thoughts.
Novenachama
So Mr. Abe's pride didn't get in his way and he offered a sincere apology and takes full and complete responsibility for his mistake. I commend him for apologizing quickly because the longer you wait, the more resentment is going to build on both sides, the harder it will be to make the move.
Aly Rustom
Mukai, Stay safely in your home without getting on the internet.
dbsaiya
KiyoshiMukai - It would be best noted that Tsujimoto stated that this was a matter of life and death. Proper debate and deliberation is prudent before and not after the fact. If you recall Japan sent civilian police officers to Cambodia under the auspices of UNTAC back in the early '90s. LDP had their way and wanted to show the world that they were ready for the world stage. Yes, and they sent the police armed only with .38 revolvers to deal with a country that had bad guys named the Khmer Rouge. Police officers died and several wounded all because of Tokyo. If I remember correctly, they were riding bumper to bumper in a convoy and the KR hit the first vehicle with an RPG and shot the officers as they were fleeing. I could be wrong, but I do remember something like that coming up at the time.
So my point is, don't run to your death, be prudent, deliberate, and know that rash decisions by the government can and will result in deaths.
zones2surf
I am just surprised that Abe didn't convene a committee to help determine the appropriate language for his apology to this lawmaker.
smithinjapan
"Last Wednesday, the day before his outburst, Abe slammed heckling from opposition lawmakers who alleged his responses were too long and redundant. “Please stop obstructing the discussion. Didn’t you learn that at school?” Abe said."
TOO funny, given that he said her question was 'too long and redundant'. Hahaha... and his apology sounds about as sincere as his remorse for Japan's past; it's only coming out because of pressure, and he still won't admit his wrongdoing with it -- he just wants to shut others up. Classic Abe.
Nathaw
Abe has women problem like his Aussie friend of Mr Abbot. Mr Abbot tried to punch one female student during his uni years. As a leader of Japan, Abe should respect the Diet and not yelling woman law maker like his own children. He is not only embarrassment for his party but also Japan.
Apology with lip service is not enough. Abe needs to bow deeply for his uncivilized and anti social behavior.
Magnet
Hey, if a politician is wasting time, it's the tax-payers who are paying for it.
SenseNotSoCommon
better cash than corpses
Christopher Glen
No argument there
Japan Violet
Would he have done that to a man? I think not. Sexism.
CrazyJoe
Two strikes down, one to go.
Strategist
Indeed, I simply fail to understand what all the commotion is about, PM Abe is but human, history speaks of many politicians and leaders whom have had such outburst, indeed the role of being a prime minister is no easy feet.
When Gordon Brown was UK PM, he outbursted that he would "unleash the forces of hell" on Alistair Darling, a cabinet official.
I kid you not, you can read about it at the following link. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7301580/Alistair-Darling-Gordon-Brown-unleashed-forces-of-hell-on-me.html
PM Abe is the only prime minister who managed to change America's 70 years military law opposed on Japan. Now that's quite the achievement.
Lets not forget that PM Abe returned not long ago from his crusade in America, no apology for a war he had no say in, (Rightfully so). Can you name another prime minister that achieved as much?
Agree with John-San "Only Great people can admit their errors. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is surely a Great person and a great representation for Japan."
The following sentence is just so Kawii. "I hate Abe. I hate him like I hate spiders, mosquitoes and ticks."
smithinjapan
Strategist: "Agree with John-San "Only Great people can admit their errors. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is surely a Great person and a great representation for Japan.""
But here's the thing; he never admitted any error. He just apologized for the outburst, and then ONLY after pressure from all sides and people pointing out the blatant hypocrisy. So, no, he's not a great man at all. If he wanted to admit errors and TRULY be a great man he'd start by admitting his viewpoint of history is distorted, wrong, and he will never try to rewrite it again. He would admit that he doesn't care what the public thinks of nuclear power, he's going to go ahead and do what he wants anyway. He would admit error in believing the public would buy into his article 9 revisions. Those are just for a start. But no, bowing and apologizing simply for the outburst -- not saying what he said was wrong -- does not at all mean he is a great man.
nath
What law are you referring to? It sounds like you are referring to the Japanese constitution, but he hasn't changed that at all.
Christopher Glen
An excellent point
gokai_wo_maneku
OK, now see, apologizing isn't that difficult, is it. Looking forward to August.
BertieWooster
Abe is mentally unstable and he's having difficulty holding it together.
This has happened before.
His 18th nervous breakdown was, for PR reasons, referred to as "stomach trouble."
He is heading for his 19th!
John-San
Thank you Trinklets2 and Strategist but my opinion is really worthiness I myself make errors and admit when I assumed or wrong. What Shinzo has done is praiseworthily. Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in a position where such an act would bring dogma from million where I only have to read a few opinionated rants
Yubaru
Hatred? No, contempt. Abe is an arrogant politician from a line of them. He comes across in many ways to me as thinking he is the next best thing to buttered-bread.
Strange? How? It was broadcast live.
Hideo Watanabe
Poor Mr. Abe.
You are mentally incompetent.Thus, you can’t assume responsibility for your actions legally. Reinterpretation of the constitution, collective self defense right based on the reinterpretation and Japan-US bilateral defense guideline are all counted as invalid. Of course, you don't need to apologize for your deed in question.
Come back anytime soon when you become mentally competent.
Namu Amida Butsu
Strategist
My apologies for the late response, you see i've just got back from giving a seminar at Westminster university.
I was referring to the following
http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/ldp-gears-up-to-revise-pacifist-constitution
http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/ruling-coalition-finalizes-draft-bills-to-boost-japans-military-role
http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/abe-eyes-new-action-plan-to-boost-tourism-to-japan
And not following through with the apology for Japans part in WWII is admirable, why sugar coat things with an apology when you really don't mean it, respects to PM Abe for following his beliefs. 70 years ago PM Abe had no say in the war so why apologise? He certainly don't look 70.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/murayama-urges-abe-to-follow-his-lead-on-war-apology
BertieWooster
I wonder why Abe is still in office.
The only people I know who have a good word to say for him are those who take everything on NHK as the Gospel.
I've been in Japan nearly 40 years and I don't remember a PM that was as universally despised as Abe.
A politician should be an expert in communication. That means that he or she should have the ability to listen as well as speak. With the attention span of a two year old, Abe doesn't qualify. Whenever I see him on TV, and someone else is speaking, he pulls faces, looks bored and comes out with angry outbursts like this. It's not the first time.
Please, please replace him before he does any lasting damage.
Yubaru
Huh? If you have been in Japan this long you would know what you just wrote here is blatantly false. His approval ratings are and have been pretty high for a PM that has been in office as long as he has been.
Because he holds the power of the LDP in his hands he can do pretty much what he wants and will get away with this too as the opposition is weak to do anything of consequence.
Pukey2
An ugly person in all senses of the word.
BertieWooster
Now, now Yubaru-san, you don't have to get nasty about it.
I wonder if you know how these approval ratings are calculated.
I'd be interested to know.
toshiko
Abe represent very few Japanese men who express some kind of kindness to women. Now you all know how Japanese culture of men folks against women.
Hideo Watanabe
Regarding to Mr. Abe’s rather high approval rating, he is probably one of those who can get the most benefit of Dunning–Kruger effect, which you can find in wikipedia what it means. I wonder if people who seem to have certain level of intelligence and praise Mr. Abe so much have ever read his web magazine which was written by himself. He has stopped writing since about a year before he was chosen as the head of LDP but old ones are still available for you to read. You can find his intelligence level immediately because the writing is the direct reflection of his mental models, brain networks of his knowledge and cognitive skill..
Pleas don’t confuse. His speeches at CSIS in February 2013, at IOC for Tokyo Olympic, or at Shangri-La Dialogue in 2014 were, of course, prepared by his speech writer with input from influencial advisers who want to keep him in the position. Please analyze those speeches word by word. Then you can find who are actually behind this administration.
Is there any person who saw through the true intention of his sudden announcement of Lower House dissolution on November 18 last year? Check out the chronology after his cabinet decision of July 1. Approval rating decline by money scandal of two female cabinet members, original schedule for Japan-US bilateral defense guideline explicated in US congressional Research as of September 24 and Mr. Onaga’s land slide victory in Okinawa gubernatorial election of November 16.
Sorry for a long comment,
Christopher Glen
Why apologise? Because of denial, denial, and more denial - from Japanese politicians
BertieWooster
Hideo Watanabe,
Would you be so kind as to provide a link to Abe Shinzo's web magazine that you mention?
Hideo Watanabe
@BertieWooster
Its URL is as follows but you will have to register, which I guess he seems to have changed the system.
http://www.s-abe.or.jp/mailmagazine
Yubaru
It would help if you did not write in absolutes, and what I wrote is true as well. If you have been here long enough you would know that Abe is actually well liked within many parts of the country.
He has blinded people with his bs.
BertieWooster
Yubaru-san,
He has blinded some, that is for sure.
My perception is that Abe is liked by the ultra right and the ultra gullible who would believe that red is green if it said so on NHK.
Do you know how these approval ratings are calculated?
I really am interested to know.
Hideo Watanabe
@BertieWooster Addition to my previous comment on URL.
The last time I took up his mail magazine article for my blog was February 17, 2015. It was his US trip report of his visit from October 14 to 19 and it was published on October 26, 2010. I wrote in my blog that his mail magazine has no new entry after November 8, 2011.
As I didn’t know much about him, I made his behavior pattern and mental model analysis in 2012 when he won the race for PM. This analytical blog was published on December 22 and 25, 2012. For the second blog I used his magazine article of January 25, 2009 which wrote his impression of Mr. Obama’s State of Union address.
He said that Mr. Bush’s speech was better than Mr. Obama’s. That is OK because it was how he took it but his end note criticizing pundits who praised Mr. Obama’s address stunned me.
He wrote; Those comments made by pundits are something even monkeys can make.
So, “Come on, just ask a question!” kind of his behavior was nothing to surprise me.
BertieWooster
Hideo Watanabe-san,
Thank you for your information.
Your analysis of Abe's mental condition is of interest to me.
He certainly has tremendous pride and pride, as we know, goes before a fall.
toshiko
He probably got impatient of this lawmaker's preliminary comments such as my name is ... I belong to JDP I an from so and so prefecture ,,,, etc and forgot she is a woman legislature. So he yelled the same way he does to men speaker forgetting he would be criticized. He probably learned in USA Senate discussion, how to stop opposition speaking regardless of sexuak difference. Or maybe he still has stomach desease and had to rush to ; ; ; ; ; ; ???
commanteer
I doubt he would have snapped at a man like that. So much for all his talk about women.
That said, Japanese in general can take forever to get to a simple point. I often feel this frustration, and want to just tell them to get on with it. Usually, I have figured out what they intend to say long before they get there - it takes enormous willpower to just wait until they catch up and finally spit it out.
toshiko
It is Abe and other cabinet Minusters attitude in Diet meeting when someone tell something many minutes before getting to talking isaues. Females hardly have a chance to speak and so this time she was doing like men do and he snapped same way all cabinet members do.