Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara says that Homare Sawa, the 32-year-old captain of the women's World Cup-winning team, should become Japan's next prime minister. Ishihara made the remark Wednesday at a ceremony in which the Tokyo metropolitan government awarded four members of Nadeshiko Japan with a special medal for the team's victory last month in Germany.
More than 2,300 fans attended the award ceremony held outside the Tokyo metropolitan government building in Shinjuku. Others besides Sawa receiving the award were Karina Maruyama, 28, Azusa Iwashimizu, 24, and Mana Iwabuchi, 18.
"Men have become so apathetic in Japan," Ishihara told the four players. "I want women like you to become leaders and show the way."
Sawa replied that she will be too busy to consider politics since the team begins its qualifying campaign for next year's London Olympics in September.
© Japan Today
42 Comments
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CHAMADE
I will never, ever, understand why the people of Tokyo are so utterly bored they need to elect someone as internationally detested as Ishihara for a source of entertainment. As for any future Tokyo Olympics - not a chance while that nationalist is in office.
nath
Really? I didn't read that at all.
BessonovYan
Why Ishihara can not recommends World Cup team captain Sawa for Tokyo Government job?
lucabrasi
@Marcus
What a sweetly innocent post! Actually, he's taking the opportunity to have yet another dig at Kan whom he despises because he rejects the loony right-wing version of politica to which Ishihara subscribes. Don't waste your sympathy on this particular idiot.
nath
I love how people are so quick to take that out of context, and use it against him out of their own personal political agendas; kinda like what a lot of republicans in America do to Obama out of the rather harmless things he do or say.
If anything, he's suggesting that hard working, deserving women should take the chance to win high ranking positions in government and break the cycle of it only being men who do so.
I also think the article title is a bit biased.
Patric Spohn
This man is a complete idiot and nothing that he has done or commented on since 97 made any sense. The media calls him out-spoken, when in fact he's a senile old racist with a very tiny ... ;)
whiskeysour
GET ME SOME GREEN TEA
But if she didn`t win, hmmmmm would he have said the comment.
Does he praise his staff like that ???? Some of his staff went to expensive schools.
Or maybe he tells his women staff, " Hey, get me some green tea !!!!! "
globalwatcher
I am ready to come back to Japan if the job is offered to me. I am willing to restore Japan.
NeoJamal
Ishihara: taking the piss out of the Democrats on a whole new level.
nath
Yes, Yes, we do need a smart, articulate, and beautiful Japanese woman to run the government! Guys are having pissing contests when they need to get off their asses and get Tohoku and rest of Japan back on it's feet and fast! They are losing the 'glorious' moment when Japan had it's second chance to revitalize the nation, just like after the war. They are fighting over this and that and playing politics with people's lives. People think that Japanese women were always in the house taking care of the children throughout history but this is far from the truth. Japanese women have made some huge contributions to the island and the world. Many sadly leave Japan because their talent is wasted in a male dominated society. I just want to point out thought that not all men are in favor of a male dominated government. Many of the men in Japan are tired of the bullshit! They want change like anyone else and would welcome a fresh 40 something, well dressed female (not the one you see on TV with the short hair though)! I can't think of anyone right now but I'l start checking. Sawa is too busy getting ready for the next phase in Nadesko's journey.
YuriOtani
It is hard to get excited when the candidates are so much like each other. I suppose she could not be any worse then the last oh 10 PM's. The thing in her favor is she understands teamwork and being the leader of a group.
herefornow
Like timeon I actually cannot find fault with Isihara on this comment. Unfortunate, but true.
SwissToni
I think Foxie's hit the nail on the head. Sounds. More like an illicit proposition than a real political hope.
Foxie
Just love his comments. He is the Berlusconi of Japan minus Ruby though.
plasticmonkey
Doesn't matter how many dumb things Ishihara says, people will keep electing him.
Serrano
Patrick - "Could she not take over as Mayor of Tokyo?"
Excellent idea!
mrsynik
Gee, Tokyo's village idiot is really on a role with inane tripe this week isn't he? Or is it just a slow news week in Japan now there's no foreign riots to report on?
Asagao
He's right that men have become so pathetic, but is he seriously recommending a woman who's only talent is to kick a ball past some women and into a net? Then again, it's a skill Kan doesn't have.
櫻井 宏幸
Ishihara definitely have lose his mind, because Anime and Manga hate him.
yokomoc
I agree Ishihara should step down and let a woman take over.
tkoind2
Ishihara has lost his already very broken mind.
lincolnman
Ishihara Tatemai:
Ishihara Hone:
Japanese men no longer have the courage or fighting spirit to venture overeas to wage war and conquer other countries, to enslave and brutalize their inferior populations, to swear undying allegience and fealty to the Emperor, to uphold the dignity and purity of the Japanese race, etc.,,etc.....
gogogo
They guy is a loony.
TokyoTanuki
According to him she should be euthanised when she passes child bearing age... so no chance of that.
lostrune2
Ya talking about Ronald Reagan who played American college football, haha.
billyshears
Surely a tongue-in-cheek remark. Even for him, that could not be a serious suggestion. If he's serious about women running the country (they couldn't possibly be any worse than the men presently at the helm!) there are already some capable Japanese female politicians he could mention.
smithinjapan
I kind of agree about the apathy thing, although it's not limited to men (and he can't say the men's soccer team or other athletes are doing well!). Now if he only said to Sawa, "We need people like you, with your spirit and motivation, to lead this nation in the future and I think you should strive to be PM", then I would have actually congratulated him on a comment. But since he's still whining inside about Kan not visiting Yasukuni, this is just meant as a jab.
michaelwhite
might as well suggesting naoto kan to be the new soccer coach. entire tokyo should be proud for having Ishihara as a mayor.
BurakuminDes
At 32, she is way too young. Wait until she is at least 70, then she can be considered for a political career. That's how it works here. Oh, she is also a female - this won't go down well with the voters.
shanabelle
Ishihara's mouth is certainly on a roll this week. But is Sawa really a good candidate for PM in his eyes... I mean Iwedidn't see her visitng Yasukuni!! That would deem her not Japanese enough for Shintarou!
smithinjapan
While he's praising women over men, which is good to hear for a change, he's still making a ridiculous suggestion. Now, it wouldn't be outside the realm of celebrities getting into politics without the proper qualifications, and heck -- maybe she's do a good job -- but Ishihara's become loonier than normal.
ExportExpert
Senile old fart needs his meds, quick nurse get the fluvenazine or maybe he's already had it.
Smorkian
Well, to be fair she could hardly be worse than him.
Cricky
He demeans woman one minute and praises them the next, wants foreign money but not foreigners... He is the embarrassing uncle at dinner, drunk face down in the soup no one will pull his head up..
just-a-guy
Did Mr Ishihara has'Alzhemier deaseses?' Probably he has no idea the govonor of Tokyo does not has the power to receommend who to be the next PM or maybe he believes he is the 'emperor of Japan'!
cleo
We all know that people who are good at running up and down a field and kicking a ball into a net are also really good at economics, diplomacy and all the other stuff a politician needs to deal with. (rolls eyes)
Really, Shin-chan, just go Home. Please.
sillygirl
does the phrase "off his rocker" apply here.
mentaiko
LOL Oracle! So true!! I am just hoping someone quickly gave him his medication after this statement!
NuckinFutz
Has this idiot been on a drinking binge lately? His comments over the last few days have been both entertaining and revolting!
timeon
“Men have become so apathetic in Japan,” Ishihara told the four players. “I want women like you to become leaders and show the way.”
For once I must agree with him.
Oracle
Well, at least he did not recommend himself.