politics

'First lady' Hitomi Noda prefers to stay out of limelight

23 Comments

Japan's new "first lady," Hitomi Noda, has seldom been seen in the media with her husband, new Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. According to people who know her, she is the ideal housewife and will be a pillar of support for her husband.

The newspaper Sports Nippon on Wednesday carried a short story on Mrs Noda, one of very few articles about her to appear in print. The story quotes her friends as saying that singing is Hitomi's hobby and she is a very able party organizer. She was host for a meeting for wives of Democratic Party of Japan members a few years ago and one of the participants thought that she was a professional hostess before she introduced herself.

Hitomi kept a low profile during her husband's campaign last weekend. She mainly just bowed to supporters at the entrance of campaign headquarters and did not go on stage with him.

While supporting her husband's political career, she raised two sons -- one is a university student and the other is in high school. When Noda's father was suffering from a serious illness, she took care of him at his home.

When a reporter asked Noda if he will take his wife with him on overseas trips, he smiled and said, "We will need a domestic alliance first."

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23 Comments
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I preferred Naoto's wife castigating and berating him.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

When a reporter asked Noda if he will take his wife with him on overseas trips, he smiled and said, “We will need a domestic alliance first.”

Great answer from Noda! I am liking this guy. Not sure about the wife though. Douze points for the party organising, but zero for not at least appearing on stage shoulder to shoulder with him, and absolutely zero for putting him in a place where he needs a "domestic alliance" in the first place!

I prefer a wife that claims to have been abducted by aliens and wins "best jeanist" awards - adds a bit of colour to the otherwise grey world of J politics.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

a common submisive housewife of a japanese politician.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I for one do not and never would support another human being made of flesh and blood to just sit at home and waste.

She's happily raised two sons, supports her husband's endeavors, keeps their home, and holds/organizes social events ...

People who proclaim this sort of life as "sitting home to waste," speak out of ignorance.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I think the definition of "housewife" is a cloudy one and that confuses the issue. A "housewife" can be someone who, as NetNinja rightly says, sits on her butt having her nails done and lunching with her friends. Unfortunately Mrs Noda also comes under this definition, but she has two sons in education, organises parties, has a hobby, and is also a carer for a terminally ill family member, even though no doubt they could afford private nursing. This is not someone I would lump into the "sitting on their butt going to waste" brigade.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Atleast she seems pretty much normal as opposed to the alien hatoyamas wife who was a nutcase.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

huh..all J women seem to be ideal housewives...stay home, cooking, raise babies, care for the husband...and I was shocked to find out some have affairs with other men outside their marriage...!

Oh seesaw, you were shocked?! You should come along to one of my kindie Mum parties, get a few of them drunk and see what comes out! They wont talk to each other but they are all quite happy to talk to me! I LMAO all the time at the image of this stereotypical, submissive downtrodden J housewife. Sometimes I think they are far more clever than we western women. At the very least, their priorities are different.

I think in J culture calling someone the ideal housewife is meant to be complimentary but I certainly wouldnt take it as a compliment. Then again, Im not Japanese.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

She is probably embarrassed that her husband is the Prime Minister...in a typical Japanese housewife fashion

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@some14some

Interesting how you see things. You see her as submissive but I see her as totally in control. At home, relaxing, watching her hubby on the tele deal with all the madness that this country has to offer while she chills, kicking back at home. Platinum credit cards and a couple of Benzs to choose from when she wants to go shopping.

I respectfully disagree. She's not the submissive one, she's the dominant one. He's a provider, breadwinner, and leader of a nation now. Some Japanese like this role. I for one do not and never would support another human being made of flesh and blood to just sit at home and waste.

I prefer American First Ladies. They get out there and show how to truly support their country and husbands.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Personally I am glad that she chooses to stay in the background, I have a healthy distaste for any politicians, (un-elected) wife or husband for that matter, who acts and thinks that they have the same power and rights as their spouse.

Remember Hillary with Bill?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

she is the ideal housewife

Not exactly a complement in my books. Sorry but I judge politicians on their wives. You are who you married. Traditional doesn't bode well for the women of Japan.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Dont worry the lime light wont last long!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Nicky, like you, oh the stories I get told!! Which is why I laugh when some people think j women have it so rough. Lots do sit on their butts but certainly not all. Thank god!

I find it interesting that Koizumi tried to do the "family" thing with his son in politics but yet never addresses the issues about the son he's never met. He would never get elected back home due to that.

And Noda IS playing the family card - he goes on about being from humble backgrounds and not being from a political family.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

She probably thinks it is mendokusai. I think she is right, why put a lot of effort into something for it to end in 6 months?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Miyuki Hatoyama was still the best First Lady Japan ever produced to be honest.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

she is the ideal housewife

huh..all J women seem to be ideal housewives...stay home, cooking, raise babies, care for the husband...and I was shocked to find out some have affairs with other men outside their marriage...!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The duty of a Japanese wife...walk behind the husband and carry a big stick. When the husband gets out of line, he gets whacked!

I have to agree with @NetNinja here...she is likely more than she appears.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Thinking about it, I do find it interesting that in the west politicians such as David Cameron and Obama openly use their families to promote their image, whilst in Japan it is almost the exact opposite. It says a lot about the electorate they are trying to appeal to.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

oh. my. god. Clearly she won't help promote women's equality in this society, but I just pray that she doesn't help set it back a few decades. I worry, as a teacher, that my female students have no strong or ambitious female role models to look up to...this doesn't help.

I agree with NetNinja - American first ladies are at least interesting and active. Even Laura Bush - seen as a typical housewife in the States - was very active in contributing to the community and country.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well most def is a smart choice. Best and last I checked Japanese first ladies are never positively / actively involved in politics or associations etc. like those of other countries. Last one to have stepped into light was Hatoyama's and tgat was solely to say crap, like she and Tom Cruise were together in another life. . .?!? Please stay outta light.his one seems more decent and submissive a lady, like a comment says above. Oh, gotta love the way the article puts "first lady" in quote. Lol.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

During his tenure, PM Murayama's wife (this was around 1995) never once made a public appearance. Some weekly magazine finally revealed she was incapacitated and confined to bed with some sort of back problem. She had been a military nurse during the war.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So a right wing conservative new leader with a submissive housewife wife. Things certainly won't change.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Appropriate behavior, and her choice. She was not elected and therefore ought not have any role in govt. Sadly, Mrs. Obama sees herself as Eva Peron, spending $10 million on personal vacations and travelling with an entourage 3 times the size of Laura Bush's (I could joke about how she needs more help, but that would be something nasty that a liberal would say).

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

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