Kishida, wife maintain closeness despite long distance

…they have only spent one third of their married life together…

Sums it up!

Oh god, here starts all the PR and propaganda. Heard all this before when Suga became 'prime minister'.

heir eldest son Shotaro, who also works as his father's secretary

Yep, it wouldn't be complete without a sentence like that thrown in.

first date at a disco called Maharaja.

Um, Monty Python comes to mind. Could become a great TV Hiroshima Drama.

It sums up. From the article, I can guess they actually have a very distant relationship, and have not done much together except some social duties.

The article just tries to give a positive image

He doesn't have to deal with her nagging him and she doesn't have to deal with his "indiscretions"....

Puff piece!

She seems quite beautiful Deep sensitive eyes. Nice figure. Perfect second in command I think.

This is a very sad story.

Perhaps when they travel to the U.S. to film the next installment of “Fumio & Joe”, Japan’s new “First Lady” can translate for the PM.

- “'Fumio' and 'Joe' hold phone talks on China, N Korea” - Today POLITICS

*- “Yuko, who graduated from Hiroshima Jogakuin Senior High School, known for its English program, already has experience on the world stage.” -*

Let’s hope “Distance makes the heart grow fonder “ applies to Kishida and his wife .

Perhaps Yuko Kishida will be more gracious than her predecessors? For example, actually stay overnight in the PM’s residence when she’s in town (Mrs. Suga believed her home outside of Tokyo was less ‘enchanted’, so to speak. Better still, perhaps Yuko-san will not ‘snub’ Dr. Biden as Akie Abe did to Melania, on more than one occasion, citing ‘conflicting schedules’ while abroad?

With his 57-year-old wife usually residing in her hometown of Hiroshima, the new prime minister says they have only spent one third of their married life together

So this is just to stop the media from spreading rumours that they may be separated/divorced.. but in reality they are no different than being separated - all for show

Maharaja is still in Roppongi (assuming it's the same place). Anyway, only one third of their marriage spent together......sounds like the perfect marriage!

Yuko Kishida, Japan's new first lady, ensures she stays in close contact with her husband Fumio despite their long-distance cross-country relationship.

One way trip between Tokyo to Hiroshima takes about 4hrs by Shinkansen train, 5 hrs by airplane. Not sure it's a long distance in Japanese standard.

As a native of Hiroshima she's been contributing to keeping the home constituency for her husband who was actually born and grown most of the time away from Hiroshima.

That’s the Japanese secret to long marriage, spend as little time as possible with each other.

With his 57-year-old wife usually residing in her hometown of Hiroshima, the new prime minister says they have only spent one third of their married life together. The marriage was an arranged one, with their first date at a disco called Maharaja.

This Fridays Izakaya, is gossip night.

That disco, I imagining, a John Kishida, moving, no, floating across that dance floor,......

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk

I'm a woman's man, no time to talk.

With respect

I feel sorry for both of them.

Flight from Hiroshima to Tokyo is 1-2 hours.

Access time between downtown and airports at both sides should also be taken into account. Hiroshima-Haneda: 4.5 hours; Hiroshima-Narita: 5 hours. 4 hour trip by Shinkansen is safe, accurate and convenient. Meanwhile fare prices remain competitive. Hiroshima is located where airplane and train services fiercely compete over price and travel time.

It's sad that they have only been together for one third of their marriage. A major part of marriage, at least it is for me, is getting it on several times a week. It's only natural. Will she be coming to Tokyo now I wonder?

So… they live apart. She went to a school that has a good English program. She wore a kimono while entertaining foreign wives. She recently cooked him his favourite dish. His son is his secretary - therefore one day he’ll probably be PM.

Im struggling to understand the point of this article. Is it the inference that as a woman she does her duties, while his son is being positioned for future greatness?

Well said, *@cracaphat 8:31pm: “*That's a good way to keep the peace.Or another piece!!” but *@Yubaru 5:18p *had a different ‘take’ on this perhaps, pieceful arrangement highlighted* **here *in JT:

@Yubaru 5:18pm: “Puff piece!” -

Good for both of them, Being at each others throat is NOT the ideal marriage, being a part is the perfect setup sometimes.

It’s in the article @garymalmgren 8:27pm:

*- “***During the LDP presidential election campaign, Yuko came to Tokyo with their eldest son Shotaro, who also works as his father's secretary*, … The three appeared in an Instagram video that helped to soften the politician's staid image*.

@garymalmgren 8:27pm: “I tried to find information on whether he has children or not. Came up with nothing. Any one know ” -

According to other posters, it would be @Speedy commute for You, too!:

@6:54pm: “Flight from [Tokyo to Hiroshima] is 1-2 hours; 

@6:45pm: “One way trip between Tokyo to Hiroshima takes about 4hrs by Shinkansen train,…”

Son as Dad’s secretary say all I need to know about this marriage.

What has love got to do with it?

Even so, may even be so.

noroahojen: You are spot on. In 2013 this very subject came up at my workplace. So two of us tested the theory. Same starting point in Shibuya Ku to a Hotel in the center of Hiroshima. No taxis allowed. Walking/Public Transport/Plane/ Tram only.

I flew and beat my colleague by 20 minutes but only because I got a bus at Hiroshima Airport that was still there from a previously delayed flight. I’d rather take the train…unless you were stumping up for taxis both ends.

Man if I only has to spend a third of time with my wife I probably still would be with the first one!

Sad, but for the most part in Asia overall practicality, security and convenience are usually the main things that keep a marriage together and while that is slowly changing with the new generation, what these two have as far as marriage is concerned isn't exactly quite out of the ordinary in Japan and throughout most Asian societies. Love comes takes time as many would say. I have seen and known more than enough people that have these kinds of marriage arrangements, so I am not at all surprised by this.

He's a lucky chap, many of us would kill to be away from the waifu full time

Cant even remember his own wife's marriage anniversary .

That's prime .

Arranged to have to only spend 30% of it together.

Does that sound like a real close relationship?

Its not companionship that's for sure.

An arranged marriage of convenience .

Why this is details we need to be aware of anyway ?

Its not politics and neither is she acting like a first lady of a democracy prime minister.

Tabloid story for tabloid minds.

Only the people involved in a marriage can define what it is. There isn't one marriage to rule them all. People are married for decades to people serving in the military and at times overseas or away on ships and subs. They have a relationship and three adult boys.

Ok, but overall and percentage-wise the average Japanese marriage isn't like the typical style marriage that is just pure love based. There are many exceptions to the rule, but overall. The love and empathy factor. We don't know these people or how they live their lives, we can only go by historical facts of how society as a whole deals with the institution of marriage.

She has too fulfill her role as PM wife,hosting wife of other women leaders

their first date at a disco

We go to DISCO! DISCO!

which one are you talking about?

What?

Which country and culture? Which religion?

What?

There is not a single institution of marriage.

Yes, there is and Japan is sadly infamously known for its marriage institution that is historically plagued with problems.

I'm surprised that no one has already quoted the well known kotowaza of Japanese wives:

Genki de rusu ga ii ( 元気で留守がいい )

The arrangement works for the Kishida family. 'Marriage' is whatever the two people most concerned make it. First and foremost, it is a 'partnership' based on trust of the other to be what each knows the other to be and accepts it. That is all that is necessary, an acceptance based on one's own wants and needs, and NOT external societal 'models' of what such a relationship SHOULD be.

I wonder whose divorce lawyers are richer...America's or Japan's...as if there were any question.

Just like every Soldiers' marriage, more apart than close but this type of marriage long last as long as the secrets are kept hidden or no secrets at all between two.

Access time between downtown and airports at both sides should also be taken into account. Hiroshima-Haneda: 4.5 hours; Hiroshima-Narita: 5 hours. 4 hour trip by Shinkansen is safe, accurate and convenient. Meanwhile fare prices remain competitive. Hiroshima is located where airplane and train services fiercely compete over price and travel time.

Difference is we're not the Prime Minister. I'm sure the guy bypasses traffic, airport lines, wait times and has his own private plane and everything covered by the government.

So much interest in their relationship.

Tabloid stuff.

If their marriage has lasted, they are probably a healthy couple. Compare many tight marriages that all too often end in acrimony and divorce.

What a sad story! But of course it is their life and they can do what they want. Sounds like a sexless marriage. Hope from now on they can stay together more often.

Nepotism: check;

Tanshinfunin: check;

Predictability: check.

Should do well!

not any different to the millions of salarymen slaves who are forced across country to work, splitting up families.....Japan sure is a weird place at times.

What a sad story! But of course it is their life and they can do what they want. Sounds like a sexless marriage. Hope from now on they can stay together more often.

> Luckily Kishida has had 20 years of Kabuki-cho to keep him company