Industry minister resigns after 8 days over 'town of death' comment

I made this comment on a related thread but it's probably worth repeating here:

How utterly pathetic.

Someone should point out to these spineless, inbred idiots who pass themselves off as politicians (because "daddy and grand-daddy were") that quitting - or forcing others to quit - over the slightest problem is neither noble nor honourable. It is actually unbelievably weak (certainly in the eyes of other world politicians) and displays a total contempt for their voters.

Perhaps it's about time that these endlessly procrastinating clowns actually started doing something constructive for the people who suffered and are still suffering in the Tohoku region. Oh, but that's the real world isn't it? Not the pampered alternative reality of forever re-shuffling, professional nonentities where a family name and four years spent partying in the "right" university buys you a never-ending, free and totally effortless ride through life.

If he had said something like "Surfs Up" he could have gotten Shimada's old job.

The problem with Japan is that 'speech' is not 'free'-especially political speech.

Mr Hachiro's comments are maybe naive in their childish simplicity but not far from the truth.

Whilst there have been deaths around the plant and there will continue to be more,it is not accurate to call the area a ghost town.

But what did he actually mean and what were his actual feelings about the trip?

We will never know as politics is not about truth nor is it a vehicle to safeguard the truth.

His remark was definitly a bit puzzling, inappropriate, inconsiderate and could have been phrased better. But is this really the cause of a resignation as the economy, trade and industry minister? Does this remark make him unfit for the job? Is he just some PR talking head? I'm all for people taking responsibilty for their actions as frankly not much of it happens in Japan but this is just stupid.

The remark was a fact & inspired a 'not-very-Japanese' openness by nature. The only wrongdoing was he voiced it out in Japan and at the eve of the 6 month commemoration of the 3-11 disasters.

Another Minister makes a quick exit. Its total lack of empathy and a detachment from reality. Too many men in Japan are victims of their own culture. From the moment they reach a position of authority everyone around them laughs at their lame jokes, runs their errands, agree with and basically suck up to them. They start to lose the knowledge of what is right and wrong on a social level. Its not just Japan of course... but it does seem like it happens more often here.

You resign NOW! DPJ Too terrible! Only LDP can restore Japan to great times. We Japanese are so angry and sick of DPJ and Noda

Kentaro, why? Your reasoning is missing here. I would like to know why LDP is better? Do you want to go back to the party that created a pile of sovereign debt of 200% over GDP. Japan is on the way to a debt default and no job creations. Is that waht you want? Please come back and let me know. Thanks.

Do these ministers ever do anything of substance other than make stupid statements?

Yeah, they accept donations from foreigners and waste tax payers yen.

Do these ministers ever do anything of substance other than make stupid statements?

@as_the_crow_flies

Blue Witch - I think the clinical name is for this problem is attention deficit hyperactive disorder. This might explain the opposition and the media's inability to submit to a more normal political time-frame. Two weeks is putting their attention span under severe stress.

Thank you for the valuable info, I completely agree with you. (^_^)

kentaro,

Man if the majority of Japanese think like you this country is DEFINITEY toast, headed to the lifestyle of North Korea, my god!

Hachiro’s remarks were widely seen as insensitive and immediately prompted opposition parties to demand Noda dismiss him.

Then I would recommend that the "oppositioin parties" begin to move back into those areas and prove him wrong. THe man is blunt and up front. I would rather have that than some professional "slicker" telling me not to worry, while they take care of themselves.

We Japanese are so angry and sick of DPJ and Noda

Sick of Noda? Hes only been in for about 2 weeks!!!

Blue Witch - I think the clinical name is for this problem is attention deficit hyperactive disorder. This might explain the opposition and the media's inability to submit to a more normal political time-frame. Two weeks is putting their attention span under severe stress.

To Hachiro....Open mouth, exchange feet!

If it was the tokyo governor Ishihara who had said what Hachiro said The LDP, DPJ and J-media won't have even raised it as a problem Hachiro is just a victim of bullying which is deeply ingrained in this J-Society.

I have traveled throughout Japan from the northern tip to the southern tip. And what did I find? Ghost towns everywhere. Probably every main downtown shopping area I walked through from Wakkanai in Hokkaido to Makurazaki in southern Kagoshima Prefecture looked like a "shuttah dori" (streets lined with closed shops ... the shutters were down permanently). These could have been called "towns of death." This is what led to the downfall of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the national elections two years ago. This economic picture of death occurred on the LDP watch. In my opinion, Yoshio Hachiro's "towns of death" comment could stretch from the devastated villages and farms in the vicinity of the destroyed Fukushima No. 1 nuclear reactors to all areas of Japan ,,, not only wiped out by a tsunami and earthquakes ... but also by a crumbling economy. And yet the LDP gets all hot and bothered by Hachiro's "towns of death" comment. To tell the truth ... well, honest politicians just can't do that anymore ...

Kentaro75 You resign NOW! DPJ Too terrible! Only LDP can restore Japan to great times. We Japanese are so angry and sick of DPJ and Noda

did some one pay this guy to make this comment? if this is how japanese people think and vote...i feel sorry for Japan

The next minister to visit Fukushima should say something like "It's regrettable that the LDP allowed and supported the building of this nuclear power plant, knowing all along that it lacked adequate protection from earthquakes and tsunamis. I hope the LDP will reflect on this and express sincerely their remorse to the people of Fukushima for their failings in this matter."

@YuriOtani

Same old same old, Yuri.... Nothing seems to change, everything comes down to who gets fatter and richer and his picture placed on the "2-year contract" Prime Minister of Japan Hall of Fame...or perhaps Shame? (-_-)

What people do not know is that this minister was also one of the few who reportedly opposed relying on nuclearbpower. Another reason why the kisha-club controlled media want him out.

what a bunch of foot in mouth weinies.

BlueWitch, they are a bunch of spineless morons. Think I suffer from the same thing you do. Will give it some thought. Maybe I have hung out with too many of them. Our leaders do not have what it takes. Suppose we need the Americans around to keep them from surrendering our nation. My god they cave in at the first bit of resistance.

If Ishihara Shintaro would have made the same comments everyone would have applauded him for his being forthright and honest about a dire situation. It's the "who" that said what they said that matters not what he said really.

Everyone in the opposition is just looking to get their butts back into power and will never pass on an opportunity to criticize the PM in power, unless it's one of their own.

The spin doctors for the DPJ should be fired, it's their fault that the comments were not put into context.

We Japanese are so angry and sick of DPJ and Noda

Sick of Noda? Hes only been in for about 2 weeks!!!

Only LDP can restore Japan to great times.

Yeah, cos they were doing SUCH a great job of that when they were in power before...

@makiminato

Still, his behavior is a bit odd. Pretending to infect someone with radiation is the part I'm bothered with. I work at a university and I never joke around when I'm in public since people might take what I say wrongly. This is because I was once taken to task for something I said as a joke.

It's a horrible feeling so I understand. I can't even joke because people criticize me telling me that I spent too long overseas and that I am now too "Americanized". see the irony? lol The people of my country lacks common sense but also they lack the sense of sarcasm and humor. The only thing they seem to understand is gross tasteless comedy by the likes of Shinsuke on the local TV.

Still, his behavior is a bit odd. Pretending to infect someone with radiation is the part I'm bothered with. I work at a university and I never joke around when I'm in public since people might take what I say wrongly. This is because I was once taken to task for something I said as a joke.

These incompetent corrupted sissy politicians have NO BALLS!!

玉がないよー　アホ～ォ Time to grow a pair like a fellow poster said and be a man, do something! Stop running like some hoe. Damn! I'm so sick and tired of these gwaddamn cowards!!!

They are all USELESS good for NOTHING!! We need MANDELAAAAAA!!! (^O^)

@Kentaro75

You resign NOW! DPJ Too terrible! Only LDP can restore Japan to great times. We Japanese are so angry and sick of DPJ and Noda

We Japanese my @ss!!!! Don't count me in, ever!! I'm not as retarded and stupid as these countryside ostriches with their heads buried on the ground humming: "shoganai, shouganai, shouganai~~"

I'm from the seaside and we do not want this CORRUPTED government in power anymore! We want all the incompetent scumbags out! Both LDP and DPJ out permanently!

was it Fukuyshima people who are angered by the comment of those opposition who just wanted to strain the image of the new administration. Guys come on. Let`s help each other. dont let your personal motives ruin this great country.

@Juan RodriguezSep. 11, 2011 - 02:57AM JST

May be sepukku? I think is good. Because cynic moral is not good not only for Japan but and for all countries of Asian region. Japanese politics are lose of discipline. I'm worry that Japan can transform from Japan to 'american asian people' by lose connect with own ancestors and culture. I hope that is impossible.

I was right in my earlier post ... No balls!

This is too STUPID! We need leaders with some BACKBONE and not overgrown children that quite when the going gets tough.

Harakiri time now?

@Kentaro75Sep. 11, 2011 - 02:25AM JST

You resign NOW! DPJ Too terrible! Only LDP can restore Japan to great times. We Japanese are so angry and sick of DPJ and Noda

You have many emotions. Are you need new PM each month? I sure that is not good for Japan. Сan you wait about two years?

You resign NOW! DPJ Too terrible! Only LDP can restore Japan to great times. We Japanese are so angry and sick of DPJ and Noda

smithinjapan SEP. 11, 2011 - 11:42PM JST

It's disgusting, really. And here you have a man who pointed out a fact and why is he in trouble? because he pointed it out -- not because it's not true, just because people would feel more comfortable forgetting about the fact that it IS true.

Yes, I believe too that this is the REAL reason why Hachiro got into trouble. The other reasons/complaints against him are just "over speak" to deflect off the real reason. A kind of inherent subtle action - more so in a culture as proud as Japanese.

Smith, you've caught this subtle point in the culture. There is no doubt that you have lived in Japan for a long, long time. I am impressed !

The “town of death” comment was seen as particularly outrageous because the government cannot provide evacuated residents with a firm timetable for their return.

Read "particularly outrageous because particularly true." And who are those who saw it as so outrageous?

Though his comment about being infected with radiation sounds totally ignorant for a minister and he deserves to get mud slung at him for that. But resign? Grow a pair and tell the opposition to go jump in a Fukushima sludge tank.

The “town of death” comment was seen as particularly outrageous because the government cannot provide evacuated residents with a firm timetable for their return.

Stupid (sarcastic) jokes aside....these people will NEVER return to their homes. And they know it too - I have spoken to many of them and they are resigned to it. Quite a few I know of are purchasing new homes outside of the radiated zone, knowing they will never return. What Mr. Hachiro is actually correct - and us Fukushima mob know it.

Noda should fall on his sword (Katana?) as the Japanese people want. He chose his cabinet...very badly. Time for a new PM! NODA OUT! He has had his time!

One Down, How Many More to Go?

all he had to do was invite others to visit and tell him he's wrong, show a little backbone. Instead the LDP probably received a bonus fee from the nuclear industry by now

So true. Have the opposition heroes who know it all tell him to his face what they thought of him instead of talking to cameras. What cowards. How unlike Japanese tradition, Japanese honor, how disappointing. The shame and blame is on the opposition who clearly are more focused on a rift between parties than on rebuilding a troubled nation.

Seriously.... this kind of behaviour in Japan persists from the lowest to highest levels. If the Hanshin Tigers did badly last night, you don't ask someone about it -- it's part of the culture. The minute you do you are basically scorned because you simply reminded people of the truth, and indirectly made them look at the facts. On the most profane levels this same mentality pollutes the revisions of textbooks, etc.; if you mention what ACTUALLY happened in history you will be open for scorn for simply presenting the facts instead of taking the mainstream 'let's just not talk about bad stuff' attitude.

It's disgusting, really. And here you have a man who pointed out a fact and why is he in trouble? because he pointed it out -- not because it's not true, just because people would feel more comfortable forgetting about the fact that it IS true.

Obviously never been to Morecambe on a rainy Tuesday night in February....

all he had to do was invite others to visit and tell him he's wrong, show a little backbone. Instead the LDP probably received a bonus fee from the nuclear industry by now

Hachiro’s remark and apparent joking about radiation were widely seen as insensitive and immediately prompted opposition parties to demand Noda dismiss him.

The only insensitivity I can see is the reaction of the opposition. Oh, yeah, I forgot , they are supposed to oppose and not do anything to govern this nation and help those in need of help. My bad.

i think rather than saying "town of death," he should have just said that due to the damage and amount of radiation we don't know if its even possible for you to go back there. it is regrettable because it was at no fault of the citizens, however for their own safety we cannot allow people to go back. and also i think the government should definitely be buying safe land and building homes to provide for these people. and of course that the plant be decommissioned. and they need to help the farmers as well. i dont agree with letting the products be sold if its dangerous, so they need to give them new land to start over, if not provide for a new way of living.

and the bar gets higher and higher to the point where no one can say or do anything. How is Japan supposed to have a frank discussion about anything after this?

“shi no machi” or a “town of death.”

Makes no odds what language you say it in it's the truth. It's a disgrace this guy has jogged on for this.

Disillusioned: "As soon as the stick their heads up someone puts a bullet in it."

Not a very apt allusion. It would be SLIGHTLY more realistic if you said 'as soon as they stick their necks out they apologize to the hunters, ask for their weapons, and then shoot themselves'.

Maybe he resigned because he was caught spreading 'baseless rumors'?

The "infecting" with radiation comment was stupid. If that's what he said, he should have said "contaminate" instead, because he probably could have contaminated someone at that point. But it is a town of death. Why should any politician have to pretend otherwise?

We all miss Kan already. He is the exception to the rule in J politics that you must be an idiot to get picked by the party to win an election. Or the imbecile grandson of a former PM.

This is just above and beyond stupid, and now it's only 8 days and we're back to the same silly circus.

That is a quote. And I said in my post that 'mysteriously' disappeared - which angered me too, that I agreed. The man did not have to resign.

I have no mercy for Tokyo Electric but this politician, well is a knuckle head, how he got this far is beyond me.

Japanese politics=manzai

But it aint so funny.............

IMO this guy deserved to get sacked. I mean seriously, he had to know that he was going to be asked for a comment on what he saw by the press. And if he was not smart enough to prepare some thoughts in advance, rather than simply wing-it, then he clearly was intellectually incapable of handling this position. And his attempt at humor by rubbing himself up against a reporter is simply so juvenile it defies description. 12 year-olds indeed.

“town of death.” That is not reason for leaving position.

“I will infect you with radiation.” I can't believe it! Very dark humor!

How that guys can worry about economic of Japan? How that guys can higher education?

For the second time today: The nail that stands up must be hammered down! Japanese politics reminds me of going fox hunting in Oz. As soon as the stick their heads up someone puts a bullet in it. However, on the brighter side, there is no shortage of entertainment value in following Japanese politics.

Okay. The next minister should say, "What a town! Love the place! - lively, wonderful, full of inspiration despite the lack of people - bring all your kids to visit! - once it's fit for habitation!" - although the last phrase would probably get him fired, too.

Does this guy not realize that not only was his comment not that far off the mark and he should have just told the LDP off, but that his resignation will have a devastating effect on the new PM and his cabinet? This guy just handed the LDP a boatload of fodder. Next they'll be asking Noda to resign because he chose incapable people. This is just above and beyond stupid, and now it's only 8 days and we're back to the same silly circus.

They changed the article from ghost town to town of death. It must have been translated wrong. But no matter, he spoke his mind and did not sugar coat it. The towns around Fukushima are just that DEAD. I was watching a documentary on the towns and the houses and businesses were just left in a matter of days. The area is uninhabitable and Hachiro-san said nothing that was not true.

And thus starts the end of the Noda government.... after 8 days! Wait for the LDP and others to start calling for Noda's resignation next, to take responsibility for appointing him.

The pathetic circus that passes for Japanese politics plays on...

死の町? Are you kidding me?! That's being kind..If you ask me to describe Fukushima....I'd say HELL ON EARTH, Death ROW, "Silent Hill" Town and so on... The majority of people here seem to be Truth-allergic or something. Always keeping their heads buried on the ground. The shouganai mentality prevails once again.

Witnesses have also said that after his visit to the plant, Hachiro made as if he was rubbing his jacket against a journalist, while making a remark to the effect that 'I will infect you with radiation.'

What a clown. He'll be able to replace Shinsuke on those TV game shows.

The expression in Japanese is exactly death town. It is not an insult. It is the truth. The ones who caused this death town arre Tepco and the very ministry he was heading for a few days, plus rightist Ishiba of the LDP, a pro nuclear weapons ex defense minister of the same LDP which pushed Japan to build these plants, now so eager to pretend they are on side of the victims. Note how prosecutors are so eager to indict politicians on accepting contributions from non Japanese and other minor infractions, but no one has moved to indict Tepco.

He was forced out due to the mechanations of the nuke industry, the pro nuke bureaucrats in his ministry, and the Gomiuri and Sankei newspapers. For JT to report, or repeat the inaccurate accusation that he made gaffes is irresponsible journalism. Please dad responsible journalists like David McNeil, often in the Japan Times.

The anti nuke movement will be out in front of Tepco tomorrow, with a human chain from afternoon to evening. In Yoyogi, Shinjuku and hundreds of locations around Japan, there will be actions. On the 19th Kenzaburo Oe will be speaking. Check out Peace Philosophy Center, Ashyura.com, and other web sites for more info.

In all countries, opposition fights with ruling party! But the truth is always somewhere in between!

I understand that Fukushima tragedy - is a terrible catastrophe, but there is one positive thing! In the future, Fukushima can attract extreme tourists. For example, now tourists come to the Chernobyl accident in Ukraine. Many tourists enjoy this trip! (may be they like living dangerously )

At least we - Kyrgyz people - will always help our Japanese brothers! In the future, the Japanese can come to our country - Kyrgyz Republic in Central ASIA! We have the purest air and water, and beautiful mountains - Great Tengiri-Too -Tien Shan mountains! KIRUGISU he YOUKOSO!

Thank God, he's resigning.

Moderator: That has not yet been announced.

Had there been no meltdowns, melt-throughs and explosions, it would take about 10 years to fully decommission the plant. now it will take about 30 years.

Supposing they are willing to spend for decommission and really want to do that, what I doubt. My guess is, they will go on with a little feigned, ostensible work and abandon the hell out there forever.

Its unclear to anyone that used to work in the nuclear industry how long its going to be uninhabitable but probably at least until the plant is under control and un-decontamination is done this might just be 1 or 2 years like 3 mile island. but the lap is just like the gop.

It literally resembled a town of death.

Will resemble more soon and will be more towns of death if politicians and parties go on with their fight for power instead of doing something that makes sense. Now, That's what I said, the country is agonizing, the vultures are circling above the quarry.

Does nobody in the DPJ have a set of balls? Tell the dissenters in the party and the LDP to go screw themselves and get back to work! It's time for Noda to go on the offensive with these constant whiners! Make them look like the fools they are! Trash them in the media! It's time for some good old-fashioned (radioactive) mud slinging!

they are argue over what the town is called? Why don't you clean up the town and then there would be no problems. There is no hope for Japanese politics. One side is constantly trying to shoot down the other side and keeps the otherside so busy with their nit picking nothing gets done, the government can't do any work because they are constantly under this crap from the opposition.

This apologixing business is whats ruining this country. Grow a back bone people. Defend yourself! Explain what u meant, back peddle, lie, do anything but DONT apologize! Otherwise they will jump on you like hungry wolves everytime u er.

日本語で死の町だから so we can say ghost town but shi no machi sounds way more terrible!! Town of death?? How about re populating it with the president of Tokyo Electric?? And all them corrupt politicians who helped us get into this horrible mess you know just to make the town a bit more lively??

Give him a break

@zichi. I searched google earth but can't find her. Ghost-town, death town...that what it is. Saying anything else is a lie and misleading.

Why is pointing that out 'insensitive'? because people don't want to hear the truth?

HEl-low! Bingo!

What a loser. He does not need to rub against anyone. Just needs to be near them. However, he should spend about 6 months there if he really wants to glow in the dark!

smith, thank you for the correct info. This news, so far, has not been reported here in US. Thanks. We are in a very somber moment of 10th year of 9/11. Our hearts still cry when we are reminded that day we will never forget. Thanks again, smith..

I guess J. politicians can only see a tree while they fail to see a forest.

Russians bombers flying all over near Japanese coast now; Greece may go down with a debt default that may cause a jolt to Japan going off the cliff; China has been rapidly increasing a military power around in Asian ; Yen currency is going too strong too fast too much ; Fukushima not yet under control; tsunami victims struggling; .............on and on and on...

I am pretty fed up with J. politicians who are LITTLE THINKERS with no problem solving skills. I am sure I am not the only one to feel that way. To me, they are a bunch of loonies.

globalwatcher: "Hello, two Russian bombers are flying all over near you."

Actually, they're not flying anywhere even remotely close to where I am, nor anyone else in Japan -- they flew near Russian islands, in Russian airspace. In any case it is not even remotely related, though I agree the current political situation in Japan and elsewhere is very much like a bad circus.

I guess we're singing same old music. Seriously, that this party will last long!

Don't see the problem. It is a ghost town, if not a death town, no-go zone, uninhabitable zone, you pick the name. But they shouldn't sugar coat it. Nuclear radiation isn't trivial, and should be called what it is.

Hello, two Russian bombers are flying all over near you. Do you hear me? I guess they are too busy in political circus. Hello, hello, hello.........Do you hear me?

This whole thing is getting dumber & dumber as time goes on, the govt & people have to realize there WILL be an area where people shud NEVER live again, it needs to determined & implemented already, DOH!

And all this talk of digging areas to decontaminate, WTH! They wud have to determine what depth to dig to & then have to remove EVERTHING above that & toss some where, this is beyond stupid, digging up a couple school yards & the like & hosing stuff down is meaningless for christs sake!

If I had lived within 100km of those nukes I wud have long ago started moving some where FAR away. I wud only go back if allowed to retrive some stuff & then it wud be sayonara!!

Why do so many people have trouble understanding this is beyond me, we are well past the initial shock phase, PEOPLE USE YR BRAINS, please!

This is PATHETIC, but it does remind of my good ole days in the sandbox fighting over tonka trucks & the like!!

Damn if I had been in Japan during my single digit years I could have been a minister or even prime minister here in Japan, but damn, I was never going to qualify once I reached the ripe old age of 10!!

Instead of apologizing I wish this guy said: 1) kiss my a$$. 2) if you don't think it's a ghost town feel free to go and check for yourself, then come back and criticize.

Kyodo news agency also quoted witnesses saying that after his visit to the plant, Hachiro made as if he was to rub his jacket against a journalist, while making a remark to the effect that “I will infect you with radiation.”

This is to me, the part that tells me he is not suitable as a minister. The Ghost Town bit I don't have any problems with.

The politiks are damned if they do and damned if they dont. Tell their opinion as they see it, their screwed, tell a lie and their screwed. Best thing to do, don't say anything.

Leaders of the main opposition Liberal-Democratic Party called Hachiro “unqualified as a minister.”

Like that is news. Of course he's unqualified. No different than any minister the LDP had for the over fifty years they ran things. This is Japanese politics afterall.

proves who owns the media and what messages get reported and how.

Anybody that has seen the footage of the area"s in question would agree it is a ghost town. The LDP is always looking to cause controversy when their are so many real problems Japan is facing.

Honesty and truthful talk are an anathema for Japanese people, they can not handle the truth and we get what we have lies and coverups.

Do not ever tell the truth

The minister's exact words were 死の町　(shi no machi) which literally translates to "town of death". If he only said ゴーストタウン　(ghost town) , people would have perceived it differently.

it is what it is--a ghost town

It's interesting that the Japanese are often described as stoic in the face of immense challenges, and described as being able to overcome so much; and yet if you simply spell out a fact you are deemed insensitive. The areas around the Fukushima plant are OF COURSE a ghost town! If any insane person were still there it would STILL be more or less a ghost town. Why is pointing that out 'insensitive'? because people don't want to hear the truth?

The minister was probably sincere and the poor choice of words just came out. He wasn't thinking what lie or logical nonsense am I going to say next? The truth or the logical validity of what he said was irrelevant to him. But the remark "I will infect you with radiation" was not too cool and shows that he was insensitive especially to the local people and did not have the ability to put himself in someone else's shoes, that is to emphasize. Ministers do not think and we know that from the past. People have to look dispassionately, skeptically and objectively at the facts and the evidence and the underlying assumptions when these type of officials open their mouth. The underlying assumption is especially important. Any human idea or statement based on some fundamental assumption, which are often, unquestioningly accepted as truth. Thus another minister apologizing and bowing to avoid embarrassment. humiliation, judgement, criticism and further unpleasant consequences to save his face.

the radiation joke qwth the journalist was probably a bit insensitive, but ghost town seems like a pretty apt description to me. What else is he supposed to call it?

I call for an immediate sacking of all ministers, disbanding of parliament and a snap general election!

Oh no, wait, Im PTA, not LDP. Sorry - got confused there for a moment!

NuckinFutz, His comments don't translate into anything insulting in English, but in Japanese, Ghost-Town has different connotations than just abandoned or empty. In Japanese it means the same, but also has the a meaning of death town, or town of death. I know this because I've myself made a similar gaff!

You are right about the opposition waiting to pounce on anything.

It just goes to show that no matter which party represents Japan, they just can't seem to pull their heads out of their *ss.

Suppose in America it would be considered population challenged. This proves the LDP are just obstructionists. They will do anything to make political hay.

God the LDP are pathetic

So much for stating the obvious. I sure hope no one mentions the irradiated food and produce.

...i agree with above posters, opposition party would call it a host-town.

Unforgiveable! A minister has to lie at any rate, otherwise he is not fitted for this job, according to the opposition parties. Even if it is seems irresponsible to let these people return to the contaminated area you have to keep up the appearance, as if it would we possible. In my country a minister who would tell such kind of lies to the people would be sacked. In Japan you cannot become minister, if you tell it like it is! Strange.

I'm still trying to see how this verbal observation could be taken as insulting or inappropriate. How is making a comment based on a personal observation wrong? The opposition clowns are just clinging to every little thing they can find to dicredit anyone and everyone so they can get back to power. Pretty soon politicians will all walk around in silence and speak only behind closed doors.