Akie Abe discovers downside of 'first lady' role

Defense Minister Tomomi Inada has said she sent the principal a thank-you letter for cooperating with the military’s activities, and on Monday again faced a grilling in parliament.

Good. Hope Inada resigns. She's a snake.

Akie has grabbed headlines by embracing progressive views such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights and opposition to nuclear power, often putting her at odds with her conservative spouse

Just a show. Has she deterred ANY right wing agenda her husband has pursued?

The role of Akie, known as the “household opposition”, has helped to offset a hawkish image of her husband that deters women voters, political experts said.

And that's why they have this farce going on. But the cat's out of the bag now. Everyone knows she and her husband are 2 cheeks of the same behind.

She goes at her own pace, and doesn’t think much about her position as prime minister’s wife,”

Really? Just how stupid does the public look?

I think it is impossible for the prime minister’s office to control her,”

Who comes up with this nonesense???

“I am very perplexed as to why I am attracting so much attention,” she said

If this unelected woman wants to regularly engage in political issues through the media, she should expect the attention and criticism that comes with it - especially when revealing her nationalistic streak. It's that simple.

I am very perplexed as to why I am attracting so much attention

Are you stupid?

You agreed to be a principal for a nasty extremist right wing school that was sending hate mail to parents about Koreans and Chinese.

I am very perplexed as to why I am attracting so much attention,

The 'let them eat cake syndrome'

LET HER LOOSE IN THE WILD.

Sure, so she can continue to perpetuate her true racist motives. If there was any justice in this world, abe would have resigned weeks ago. I can't wait for the coming bait and switch. Should be epic!!

I am very perplexed as to why I am attracting so much attention

oh boo hoo! Your husband was setting you up for a job position and you both got caught, otherwise there was no need for you to pull out as head mistress. You and your husband are criminals.

"I am very perplexed as to why I am attracting so much attention"

Yeah, right... Try this for starters

<>https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=VsKCy9J3_Hk<>

“She goes at her own pace, and doesn’t think much about her position as prime minister’s wife,”

Right... That's why she's constantly attending trips with him around the world and more than happy to discuss him and how she is "so" different from her right wing husband.... Give me a break lady. The empresses has no clothes on.

Akie Abe, attended Rikkyo University and wrote a master's thesis on education. Prime Minster wife or not, Akie Abe was not born yesterday, Yasunori Kagoike is a liarholic. Akie Abe would have sensed this the moment she clapped eyes on him and his lips started moving.

It was the influence of Moritomo Gakuen political connections that made this happen. Akie Abe accepted the role as honorary principal because it suited an agenda.

Yasunori Kagoike is a walking talking media headline and he just won't go away.

“I am very perplexed as to why I am attracting so much attention,” she said at an International Women’s Day

Her "dumb blonde" response to the current scandal is a major gaffe I reckon as now it just shows that she is even betraying her supposedly feminist views by reinforcing the idea that women are natural morons who don't understand the intrigues of politics. She has now shown that all her championing of "liberal causes" has been a facade, and in fact she has deliberately deceived the public over many, many years

"'She goes at her own pace, and doesn’t think much about her position as prime minister’s wife,” said a Japanese journalist who has interviewed Akie several times and asked not be identified, because she was not authorised to speak to media." Not authorized to speak to media?! Isn't this a free country? How does one even get authorized to speak to media, and who issues such permits? Puzzled. Plus, this is a journalist saying these words. Doesn't the nature of her job mean that, actually, she IS the media?

“I think it is impossible for the prime minister’s office to control her,” said the journalist.

All her talk about opposing nuclear power is just window dressing, smoke and mirrors. If she was truly independent, she would pray at Chidorigafuchi cemetery instead of visiting Yasukuni.

progressive views such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights

Japanese society was traditionally tolerant of bisexuality and even sodomy. They shifted away from open tolerance due to their 19th century "modernisation image". They're now shifting back because it's fashionable to do so. Thus, it's no skin off Akie's nose to be an advocate over this. And then there's still the tricky issue of her endorsement of the school. You don't endorse something unless you support what it represents.

Leave her alone. She is at her best when she does things on her own way. Let her speak her own minds whenever she wants. She speaks against Nuclear power plants (opposing her husband policy). She speaks for legalization of some drugs for medical purpose (opposing against her husband). She walks right into the middle of anti-Abe activists for a direct talk. Let her walk, run or fly anywhere she wants. LET HER LOOSE IN THE WILD.

All she does, as mentioned in the article, is soften her husband's image by pretending to be against him, and fooling people into thinking the government is fair. Until she actually blocks one of Shinzo's moves, it's all just for show.

Sorry, no sympathy for bigots. And she is one.

what i wanna know is who in the government actually authorized the sale. somebody had to put their hanko on it. who?!

socrateosMAR. 14, 2017 - 08:05AM JST

I think it is impossible for the prime minister’s office to control her...

Leave her alone.

No. If she allows herself to be caught up in the nefarious doings of her loathsome husband and his equally loathsome Nippon Kaigi/LDP friends she deserves all the negative media attention she gets.

She is at her best when she does things on her own way.

Do you think this Moritomo Gakuen affair shows her at her best?

Let her speak her own minds whenever she wants.

It's a free country, supposedly, so I have no problem with that if the media and the opposition can give her hell for endorsing activities that are illegal under the Fundamental Law on Education and in all probability indirectly facilitating this whole land acquisition deal. I mean, how easy do you suppose it would have been for Kagoike to twist the Osaka municipal authorities around his finger without being able to talk up his connections to Nippon Kaigi and the Abes? Akie Abe is complicit in all this, either because she's just dumb or because she knew perfectly well what was going on but thought it would be okay as long as they all got away with it. Totally inexcusable either way.

Nippon Keigi is a clue here. In South Korea heads roll, well prison at least, Japan just bow or resign.

Akie......"known as the household opposition", "famous for holding hands with her husband"

You can't make this lame nonsense up. Who eats this garbage?

Actually she just discovered the boomerang effect. If you endorse hate speech against others, sometimes your crap comes back and hits you in the face. Now you and your husband have been exposed as having beliefs that many find repulsive. Why don't you show your true colors and come out at the 8 o clock news and stand behind Nippon no Kai, and tell Japan what you stand for? What kinda coward claims nationalist then runs from it when it comes out?

We are not god, investigation have to be conducted. I do not like what the school did but the real bad person have to be found. This is not a joke or topic for gossip, we have to get real.

smithinjapanMAR. 14, 2017 - 09:03PM JST

lucabrasi: "Equally annoying is "PM Abe", as if his job were some kind of title. He's "Mr Abe, the prime minister." She's "Mrs Abe"."

Not sure why that annoys you, his official title IS Prime Minister, so Prime Minister Abe is perfectly valid, as is "the First lady" for his wife.

Some time around the late 80s or early 90s I kept hearing various Americans on the TV news referring to "Prime Minister Thatcher" or "Prime Minister Major" and thinking it sounded a bit odd. I've grown accustomed to it since although I don't think I'd use the expression myself.

"the First lady" for his wife

Um no, just no

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Lady

Only President qualifies to have first lady. Last I checked abe wasn't one.

She needs to wcareful when someone tries to use her name.

Poor Abesan with a dumb wife.

The term "first lady" is ridiculous when applied to Americans, and doubly so here. Abe isn't the Head of State, stop treating him as if he were.

Equally annoying is "PM Abe", as if his job were some kind of title. He's "Mr Abe, the prime minister." She's "Mrs Abe".

Nippon Keigi is a clue here. In South Korea heads roll, well prison at least, Japan just bow or resign.

Heads rolling is OK, but in South Korea where almost all heads roll, that is a problem in its own.

Japanese language is not translation of British English. Let's go back to PM's wife. She will be careful from now on.

@smith

I'd argue that the emperor's wife is the "First Lady," as he's the Head of State. Anyway, it's a ridiculous term, hence the uncertainty over what to call Bill in the event that Hillary won.

And nobody called the prime minister "PM xxxx" ten years ago. It's a very recent, and I suspect American-influenced, innovation.

Nippon Kaki has nothing to do with South Korea. Translation of Nippon is Japan not South Korea.

@Simon

Agreed. Never heard it myself until "PM May". Horrible.

@Tina

Japanese isn't affected by Americanisms like we in the UK are. We don't refer to "suspect Tanaka", or "athlete Yamaguchi" in proper English. Why make an exeption in this case?

lucabrasi: "Equally annoying is "PM Abe", as if his job were some kind of title. He's "Mr Abe, the prime minister." She's "Mrs Abe"."

Not sure why that annoys you, his official title IS Prime Minister, so Prime Minister Abe is perfectly valid, as is "the First lady" for his wife.

And nobody called the prime minister "PM xxxx" ten years ago. It's a very recent, and I suspect American-influenced, innovation.

In Japanese "Abe Shusho", which means "PM Abe". Not an American-influenced innovation.

I think it is impossible for the prime minister’s office to control her...

Leave her alone. She is at her best when she does things on her own way. Let her speak her own minds whenever she wants. She speaks against Nuclear power plants (opposing her husband policy). She speaks for legalization of some drugs for medical purpose (opposing against her husband). She walks right into the middle of anti-Abe activists for a direct talk. Let her walk, run or fly anywhere she wants. LET HER LOOSE IN THE WILD.