politics

Abe finally takes a day off after 148-day work streak

32 Comments
By Dale Roll, SoraNews24

It’s been a hard couple of months for everybody, and no less for the world’s leaders. As everyone knows, Prime Minister Abe has been working round the clock since the pandemic began, nary taking a moment, never mind a day, to rest.

In fact, Prime Minister Abe made sure to let everyone know how hard he’s been working. On an internet TV program hosted by former Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, which aired on June 20, he said, “I haven’t had a full day off in about five months.” Jiji Press reports that since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Abe has been working through weekends and holidays, and hasn’t taken a day off for 148 days.

Now that the number of new coronavirus cases has declined, and the Japanese economy is recovering swimmingly, poor, Abe finally got some rest on June 21, his first full day off since Jan 25. He kept his calendar free of official business, maybe even turned off – or unplugged? – his phone, and probably kicked his feet up for some well-deserved R&R.

“Pro baseball is starting again,” he said on the internet program. “And socio-economic activity has gone up a level, so I’m pretty free now.”

Japanese netizens remarked:

“Take a good rest and then please give me another 100,000 yen.” (Referring to Japan’s stimulus check.)

“Don’t turn this kind of thing into news.”

“If the prime minister is doing this it makes work reform impossible. If the top doesn’t rest, then of course his subordinates can’t either.”

“He can just take the rest of his life off.”

“So? There are loads of people all around the world who are working every day, all thanks to their governments.”

“Oh, I thought he was fully enjoying the ‘Stay Home’ orders…”

“Take longer.”

“Doesn’t he have nothing but days off? lol”

“Make sure you rest well so you can be fully prepared for the second wave.”

Some netizens even tried to reassure the Prime Minister with positive and completely unironic hashtags such as:

HaveAGoodRestShinzoAbe

MakeSureYou’reEatingEnoughShinzoAbe

ThanksforYourHardWorkShinzoAbe

RestEvenMoreShinzoAbe

Source: Jiji Press via Livedoor News via My Game News Flash, Twitter/@livedoornews

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Japanese PM Shinzo Abe says he pays his Facebook and Twitter fees just like everyone else

-- Japanese Twitter users surprised that the Foreign Minister did something cool

-- Jason calls off Friday the 13th activities due to coronavirus

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

32 Comments
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Has anybody seen him doing anything?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Simon FostonJune 26  02:56 pm JST

It's really not major at all. It simply means that Japan can become embroiled in some hypothetical international fiasco in the future. I would be more impressed if Abe had used his... skills to do something about real problems that people in Japan have right now.

Actually, credit where it's due because it's not in anyone's interests for a prime minister to be a complete and abject failure - I was very pleased about the government cutting the cost of pre-school education, although it would have been nice if they had also managed to slash some unnecessary spending to pay for it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Lynn Nicole GatienToday  08:02 am JST

Simon, Abe has been elected 9 TIMES throughout his career, and even if he's from a hereditary family history of politicians (grand-father, grand-uncle & father),

Plenty of other politicians manage to get elected nine times without having an inherited brand name, voter base and campaign funds.

its also a prerequisite to become a Japanese political public servant. 

What, getting elected nine times, being from a hereditary political family, or both? I'm not so sure about that.

1- In 2013, Abe created a new interpretation of the Japanese constitution which allowed Japan in 2019 to obtain the rights of defense to the country & the rights of all Japanese ALLIES to come to the aid for collective security. This is MAJOR.

It's really not major at all. It simply means that Japan can become embroiled in some hypothetical international fiasco in the future. I would be more impressed if Abe had used his... skills to do something about real problems that people in Japan have right now.

If you're aware/informed of, it's nearly impossible to modify or add new laws with how the current administration is set up. The American general MacArthur wrote the constitution & implemented it in 1947 (giving Japan a chance to rectify any part of it but they refused to from fear of possible trouble and/or repercussions) while purging 240 000 of the most powerful families/individuals of all authority in order to render Japan completely politically, industrially, legally, socially, economically & military PASSIVE.

To pass a law or modify one in Japan, it takes 66% of votes passed in both the legislative and secretary office BEFORE it goes through to the Diet office, which then requires 100% unanimous votes to pass it. If not, the minister is forced to RESIGN (it's happened 5 times in history so far). No country in the world it such % votes required, even less obtained!

Except that's not actually what Abe did. He just got the Cabinet to approve a re-interpretation of an existing clause in the Constitution. To actually revise an article or clause, he needs it to pass by two thirds majorities in both Diet Houses and win a national referendum. So far he has failed to do so in spite of trying for eight years.

2- Abe restructured the total CHAOS that the PLD (PMs Yukio Hatoyama, Naoto Kan & Yoshihiko Noda) created back in 2009-2012 that rendered the administration completely inefficient with their insane decision to change the structure of the offices. Its because of Abe's extensive know-how, experience & influence, that he effectively got the Japanese administration back ON TRACK (and no, its not just a matter about lame lunches and public relations).

PM Natoa Kan couldn't even dispatch the military to aid civilians during the March 2011 earthquake & tsunami disaster because of the administrative mess the PLD did internally: it took a week before final executive approval arrived!

Isn't it a bit of a false equivalency to compare a PM from a party with decades of experience of governing and handling bureaucrats with one from a party that had never been in power up to that point? Anyway, it doesn't appear as if Abe has put the administration to any good uses now that it's supposedly back on track. He's made bureaucrats complicit in his sleazy arrangements with cronies, e.g. the Moritomo and Kake Gakuen affairs, the situation in Fukushima seems to be as bad as ever and well, the less said about his handling of the CO-VID19 crisis the better.

He might be a puppet in the machine as all PMs are, but his skill is unmatched so far. 

I'd call that a pretty poor reflection of Japanese politics.

And am strongly concerned who can be an adequate successor as skilled as him once he retires.

Just about anyone or anything with a pulse.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

He can just take the rest of his life off.”

“Take longer.”

“Doesn’t he have nothing but days off? lol”

LOL!!! I agree!! But its nice to see the Japanese electorate say that so the trolls here can't howl about "Japan bashers!" LMAO

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Simon Foston June 25 05:38 am JST

He got to where he is because of an accident of birth. Anything he didn't get on a silver spoon he got through backroom LDP party politics.

Simon, Abe has been elected 9 TIMES throughout his career, and even if he's from a hereditary family history of politicians (grand-father, grand-uncle & father), its also a prerequisite to become a Japanese political public servant. Makes no sense to blame him on the aspect when it's part of the policy.

For example? I can't really think of anything in particular. He seems to spend more time thinking of all the GOOD he can do for his cronies, like Kotaro Kake and his faithful Yamaguchi koenkai vassals.

1- In 2013, Abe created a new interpretation of the Japanese constitution which allowed Japan in 2019 to obtain the rights of defense to the country & the rights of all Japanese ALLIES to come to the aid for collective security. This is MAJOR.

If you're aware/informed of, it's nearly impossible to modify or add new laws with how the current administration is set up. The American general MacArthur wrote the constitution & implemented it in 1947 (giving Japan a chance to rectify any part of it but they refused to from fear of possible trouble and/or repercussions) while purging 240 000 of the most powerful families/individuals of all authority in order to render Japan completely politically, industrially, legally, socially, economically & military PASSIVE.

To pass a law or modify one in Japan, it takes 66% of votes passed in both the legislative and secretary office BEFORE it goes through to the Diet office, which then requires 100% unanimous votes to pass it. If not, the minister is forced to RESIGN (it's happened 5 times in history so far). No country in the world it such % votes required, even less obtained!

2- Abe restructured the total CHAOS that the PLD (PMs Yukio Hatoyama, Naoto Kan & Yoshihiko Noda) created back in 2009-2012 that rendered the administration completely inefficient with their insane decision to change the structure of the offices. Its because of Abe's extensive know-how, experience & influence, that he effectively got the Japanese administration back ON TRACK (and no, its not just a matter about lame lunches and public relations).

PM Natoa Kan couldn't even dispatch the military to aid civilians during the March 2011 earthquake & tsunami disaster because of the administrative mess the PLD did internally: it took a week before final executive approval arrived!

Hence, this is why I highly admire Abe. He might be a puppet in the machine as all PMs are, but his skill is unmatched so far. And am strongly concerned who can be an adequate successor as skilled as him once he retires.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Abe and Hashimoto,

fellow of Japanese extreme-rightists.

Abe continues to escape from accountability about innumerable political scandal.

Hashimoto had justified and defended Japan's poor PCR test system,and urged general public to avoid PCR test but,somehow,himself was able to PCR test soon after fever.

and Hashimoto praised Abe.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

dagonToday  11:19 am JST

And also a better boast would be if he could point to the benefits he has brought to the Japanese populace. Unfortunately there he has nothing to talk about.

Apart from the benefits he's brought to a select few he has quid pro quo arrangements with that he really doesn't want to talk about.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Typical Japanese man of his generation boasting about his long working hours but blown up to the megalomaniacal proportions befitting of his position. And also a better boast would be if he could point to the benefits he has brought to the Japanese populace. Unfortunately there he has nothing to talk about.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

BakabonPapaToday  10:20 am JST

Maybe it's time for him to retire...or, for the entire LDP to retire.

Long past time.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Maybe it's time for him to retire...or, for the entire LDP to retire.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Probably personally licking each stamp for the mask send outs

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Dinner with his friends, Speech that is full of boast and lie, Farce press conference that questions and answers are decided beforehand,

Those are content of "hard work" of present Japanese prime minister.

Only adorers of Abe always praise Abe.

Japanese prime minister's decision against Corona virus pandemic were too late about everything,it has brought 2nd higher Covid19 mortality in Asia into Japanese society.

Many hospitals are still in hard.

who is in most tough situation are medical staff or ordinal citizen.not prime minister.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

After urging the country to shutdown for several months did Abe still receive a salary?

I did not; and still no 100K yen payment...still!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Lynn Nicole GatienToday  12:46 am JST

Frankly, I find it quite disrespectful that so many natives bash Abe so extensively. This man is THE most qualified PM Japan has ever had from his political & international experience.

He got to where he is because of an accident of birth. Anything he didn't get on a silver spoon he got through backroom LDP party politics.

Natives truly need to be educated on all the GOOD he’s done for Japan...

For example? I can't really think of anything in particular. He seems to spend more time thinking of all the GOOD he can do for his cronies, like Kotaro Kake and his faithful Yamaguchi koenkai vassals.

AlexBecuToday  03:39 am JST

Let's ignore the fact that he lead Japan through one of the worst pandemics in over 100 years.

Yes, let's because he didn't seem to do much effective leading.

Let's ignore your past comments which you predicted thousands of Japanese dying of the Virus, accused Abe and the government of incompetence just to realize later on Japan succeeded!

So you keep saying.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Let's ignore the fact that he lead Japan through one of the worst pandemics in over 100 years. Let's ignore your past comments which you predicted thousands of Japanese dying of the Virus, accused Abe and the government of incompetence just to realize later on Japan succeeded!

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

It is quite surprising for me to see that there are more dissidents against LDP cronies than netto-uyokus. Shinzo Abe's popularity has also tanking severely for a year now. However, it is also saddening to see that old farts and hags will vote for LDP and Shinzo Abe, no matter what!

His popularity is bankrupt but his political support is not.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Frankly, I find it quite disrespectful that so many natives bash Abe so extensively. This man is THE most qualified PM Japan has ever had from his political & international experience. Natives truly need to be educated on all the GOOD he’s done for Japan, and need to know how difficult & vast the Japanese political “machine” is.

i understand the frustration of people regarding the concept of round the clock “hard work” which actually emits pressure for everyone top down, but know that the media also scripts things to sensationalize in order to get ratings to enable them to survive.

Also, if you think doing public relations, conferences, endless meetings & strategy all day long isn’t work, is a joke or is just “play”, you’re kidding yourself hard! This stuff is exhausting!!! Perceptions, ignorance and being uneducated twists every single thing into pure chaos and one has to set the record straight each time as well as contend with adversaries from opposite parties, the mass populace & international perceptions!

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Nobody cares.

Nice precedent to set - didn't he have an initiative to stop this kind of work culture nationwide?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Simply put... for this argument... put yourselves in his shoes...

If you could do better... then run for office and do better...

The point is... regardless of the "levels" we "expect" based on out own values and desires... Japan is "back" working even with some officials that showed rather less than reasonable and competent response to the pandemic for their citizens.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Big deal . Nothing great

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Least he’s not off golfing every other weekend...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It is difficult to function coherently for forty eight hours without rest. 

I know from recent experience. Especially when delivering devastating unwelcome news to employees families.

Look, stop ridiculing the electorate. 

It is ridiculous, obvious and frankly offensive.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

please quit as PM immediately Mr Abe and do us all a favour!!

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Looking at how much that has been accomplished by him, I would be embarrassed to admit that. The only people that have benefited so far are his corporate friends. The only relief I have received to date is two Abe no masks.

So please take a long vacation. Perhaps less of my taxes will go into the pockets of his corporate friends..

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Hasn't taken a day off? Didn't we see him putting his foot up at home, being licked by his dog? Or are we supposed to forget about that fiasco? Well, I haven't taken a day off either. I've been working at home 7 days a week.

10 ( +15 / -5 )

At least 4 people were positive, and had their comments enlarged to headline size?

Hardly seen him, can't afford too much interaction someone might ask him an awkward question about soo many things.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Playing golf, attending parties and signing papers must be a lot of hard work

8 ( +13 / -5 )

This is the ultimate form of the GANBARU Japanese worker. All that time "working" but got nothing done in the end. At least monumental effort was exerted! Amazing effort, Abe-san! See you back in the office tomorrow.

9 ( +16 / -7 )

Just because he shows up to the office, does not automatically mean he is "working", and personally speaking he could take every day off and things would probably be a hell of a lot better!

17 ( +23 / -6 )

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