Japanese foreign minister retracts controversial childbirth remark

Where do they find these people?!

While known for her efforts to further gender equality,

Seems not.

Seems she is engaged in a race to the bottom with similar LDP stars like Taro Aso who commented on her ageing looks.

Japanese politics looks to be suffering the same degradation of discourse as in other nations like the USA.

While known for her efforts to further gender equality, the comments are expected to garner criticism for their lack of sensitivity.

Oxymoron! Emphasis on the latter half of the word!

Was she speaking philosophically?

Everything about the human brain and body are evolved to survive, reproduce and protect children until they are self-sufficient. We are not evolved to spend 1/3 of our time sitting on our butts in an office unless it is only for survival, being able to secure a reproductive mate or to give advantages to our offspring who may also continue to pass on our DNA.

Such an offensive thing to say, especially to the thousands of women who are unable. This is Aso/Mori level stuff. The women of Japan should be able to expect better of their representatives in the government.

Where do they find these people?!

If you live in Japan they are literally all around you! What is sad is that there are plenty of people who think like this here.

I know far too many women, single, who literally HATE going home to attend "family gatherings" like OBon or New Year's because invariably Mom, or Grandma, or some other member of the family, usually another woman, and also men too, will ask "When are you getting married?" "When will we see our Grandkids" and they make them feel like guano and make them feel like they aren't "serving their purpose" in the world or "not doing their job" by not having children.

It's not just the politicians, but the folks all over the country that THINK this way.

She only gets called out for talking dumb. If she would have kept her mouth shut, she'd be fine, because many if not all the people she was talking to agree with her point of view.

I have always said that many women here in Japan are a HUGE part of the problem, because they agree with the misogynistic and ultra-conservative views regarding a woman's place in society here in Japan.

The women of Japan should be able to expect better of their representatives in the government.

The "men" should as well!

Denying one's biology is living a false life and living a life without purpose.

The "men" should as well!

Yes, absolutely. I didn’t mean to exclude them. Just woke up and angrily posted.

Wondering if she was having a go at Abe’s wife?

I am no fan of Ms. Kamikawa, but the reports in Japanese indicate that this speech was given to around 100 women, and Ms. Kamikawa was basically stressing that society would have no men without the pain and suffering that women go through in childbirth.

The opposition then jumped on this remark and asserted that she was questioning a women's worth without giving birth.

This Kamikawa person has obviously spent too long trying to ingratiate herself with the geriatric mysoginist old men running the LDP who can't keep their opinions to themselves because they think everyone has to respect what they say, no matter how stupid or outmoded it is.

Apparently, she was in front of her supporters, most of whom were women, and over a hundred of them applauded.

Her thinking seems archaic but if things don’t change, there will be no more Japanese In 100 years. Their economy is suffering and the most patriotic thing to do at this point is to bear children.

@TaiwanIsNotChina

As a matter of fact more that double the fertility rate in Japan; a life of joy and purpose. I never worked to get money to buy a bobble.

And she represents Japan abroad.

While I don't agree with her comments, before so many of you rant and rave about her, these kinds of ideas are really starting to take hold in many western countries as well. Look at the Maga crowd, and the Truckers for Freedom in Canada. They believe the same thing as do their politicians!

FM Kamikawa is actually a a quite capable minister. But in an effort to comment on the position to resist the 少子化situation looks like she came out with a pretty stupid response that was just asking to get pounded by the media.

Humans, like most animals, are designed to reproduce. I think we are all there with that one.

But the salient point some of these people are just failing to understand, is that it takes fairly significant social and environmental factors to either suppress, or extinguish completely this naturally hardwired instinct in people, but especially in women.

What some honest navel gazing would do by the LDP is, expose the reality that there are social and environmental factors in Japan that simply need reforming and change to rekindle the desire to have kids. Things that you can just solve by throwing money at it - that's the lazy approach. The lawmakers need to implement meaningful social and corporate reform, which would be predicated on them acknowledging that Japan isn't perfect. This is the part they may struggle with the most....

Look at the Maga crowd, and the Truckers for Freedom in Canada. They believe the same thing as do their politicians!

Yes, and they will be out in force by the end of the day on JT supporting Kamikawa's sentiments. Japan is their spiritual home.

Asiaman7Today  07:22 am JST

I am no fan of Ms. Kamikawa, but the reports in Japanese indicate that this speech was given to around 100 women, and Ms. Kamikawa was basically stressing that society would have no men without the pain and suffering that women go through in childbirth.

The opposition then jumped on this remark and asserted that she was questioning a women's worth without giving birth.

That's what opposition parties do, and it kind of sounds like that's exactly what she was doing. If not she should have been smart enough not to say anything that could possibly have been taken out of context, however I can't imagine any context a remark like how "we women can call ourselves women without giving birth," would have been okay in.

SO perhaps if the government stopped giving money away to wars on the other side of the world Japan has nothing to do with and stopped spending trillions of yen on a military upgrade it does not need and look after their own people first perhaps people would be more open to having children

TamaramaToday  07:41 am JST

The lawmakers need to implement meaningful social and corporate reform, which would be predicated on them acknowledging that Japan isn't perfect. This is the part they may struggle with the most....

Possibly because the problems have all developed on their watch. In the UK or the US, politicians can blame the other parties that were last in power for everything that's going wrong, e.g. Labour in the UK will surely blame the Conservatives for everything for just about the whole duration of the next Labour government. The LDP have no one else to point the finger at really.

Uuh...she's also one of the names being floated by the LDP for the post-Kishida premiership. Par for the course.

Now her true self is showing.

I know far too many women, single, who literally HATE going home to attend "family gatherings" like OBon or New Year's because invariably Mom, or Grandma, or some other member of the family, usually another woman, and also men too, will ask "When are you getting married?" "When will we see our Grandkids" and they make them feel like guano and make them feel like they aren't "serving their purpose" in the world or "not doing their job" by not having children.

That happens all the time in the West, too.

@MarkX

I'm not sure where you live but the majority of people in every country of the world produce children and find raising them to bring meaning and joy to their lives and will do anything to protect their children from outside actors who want to manipulate and control their children. You are simply not being a human if you think a "career" and telling others what to do are your purposes in life.

Why do some Japanese lack logic circuits breakers,this more like barefoot and pregnant platform like right wing Christian,when people demonstrate they can meet their own emotional need and the emotional need of their child,maybe they are candidates for parenthood

I think there is more to women than just being a worker, a tax payer or chasing a career . It’s one part of being a women. Have we reduced women’s worth to only being worth if she is working a “job” has a “career” paying “tax”.(ironically by some women) If a women and society wants to value a women as a “mother” that’s awesome. This doesn’t sounds so silly if we look as “men”, we can just as much value a man for his role as a “father”. We can’t have a women work all hours, then Expect her to have more babies. Time energy, money and stress on a relationship has a personal cost.Personally I don’t think politicians can have it both ways. A hard working man and a women, struggling with money, time, work, and then expect them to have 3 kids. Sadly I think women (and men) have been reduced to being an economic a “worker”, “tax payer” and someone to increase “productivity” for share holders, bigger dividends. We should value being a mother/father, as part of that “ new economy”. Surely that’s gotta have some value socially and economically?

A little back ground information would help. For example: Is she married? Does she have any children? Does she have any grandchildren?

Then as a reader, I could formulate an option of this politician’s remarks regarding women and child birth.

If this quote is not out of context, this statement is unbelievable.

Women can do what they choose without know it all Politicians and commentators here deciding on the destiny of women.

I know in Australia some of our most successful women in Law and Politics have no children.

I know of other brilliant women who chose to leave such professions because it was incompatible with raising children.

If child birth is so essential for all women....make it easier for them to have professional lives whilst raising children.

Alongfortheride,

Worth restating. Your comment is spot on!

“SO perhaps if the government stopped giving money away to wars on the other side of the world Japan has nothing to do with and stopped spending trillions of yen on a military upgrade it does not need and look after their own people first perhaps people would be more open to having children”

Just to add:

Money for the wars Japan has nothing to do with and for useless US arms has to come from somewhere - from where? From the taxpayer. Taxes and financial mismanagement have created a situation where many just cannot afford to start a family.

It’s not just the women, young men and women are choosing not to have kids. The reasons behind this collective decision are not well understood, but surely the economic health of Japan, which deteriorated under the LDP, is a major factor.

Reading on through this morning's articles, I came across this one:

https://blog.gaijinpot.com/what-is-the-average-cost-of-living-in-japan/

And found this sentence:

“Based on the average annual salary, these taxes add up to 40% of income. Broadly speaking then, that’s around 40% of your earnings taken care of.”

As obladi writes:

“It’s not just the women, young men and women are choosing not to have kids. The reasons behind this collective decision are not well understood, but surely the economic health of Japan, which deteriorated under the LDP, is a major factor.”

This country is biting the hand that feeds it. Taxes are so high that people cannot afford to start a family.

Obasan speaks without thinking...

While known for her efforts to further gender equality...

(while advancing her political career, perchance?)

"Hang 'em high", or rather "drop 'em down" Kamikawa is also known for her efforts to clear death rows so she is hardly a person qualified to lecture women on what a human life is worth. Even murderers have mothers.

AlongfortherideToday  07:50 am JST

SO perhaps if the government stopped giving money away to wars on the other side of the world Japan has nothing to do with and stopped spending trillions of yen on a military upgrade it does not need and look after their own people first perhaps people would be more open to having children

Yeah. I overheard a whole group of young women at my company saying they would gladly have children but those darn military upgrades made them change their minds.

I am no fan of Ms. Kamikawa, but the reports in Japanese indicate that this speech was given to around 100 women, and Ms. Kamikawa was basically stressing that society would have no men without the pain and suffering that women go through in childbirth.

Yahoo Japan’s report says "新たな知事を誕生させるとの趣旨の発言だが、" which suggests she was clumsily using a "give birth" metaphor to refer to the election of a new governor.

This may press some people's buttons, but does not strike me as explicitly sexist, like Mori's "Women just prattle on and on in meetings and we can never get anything done" comments.

Yeah... but the bottom line is Japan needs more children. The fertility rate is 1.3. Japan's population is dropping to the tune of almost 1 million a year right now. It is tough because women often, even now, work, take care of kids and do most of the housework... who would want that. Japanese companies need to do away with all the salaried style overtime and let people go home at 4 and 5pm. This way both men and women could share more evenly when bring up kids.

> BertieWoosterToday 09:48 am JST

Reading on through this morning's articles, I came across this one:

> https://blog.gaijinpot.com/what-is-the-average-cost-of-living-in-japan/

> And found this sentence:

> “Based on the average annual salary, these taxes add up to 40% of income. Broadly speaking then, that’s around 40% of your earnings taken care of.”

> As obladi writes:

> “It’s not just the women, young men and women are choosing not to have kids. The reasons behind this collective decision are not well understood, but surely the economic health of Japan, which deteriorated under the LDP, is a major factor.”

> This country is biting the hand that feeds it. Taxes are so high that people cannot afford to start a family.

That is a part of the problem but it's mainly their different ideology that's stopping them. A good amount of women saw their mothers having to do all the housework, child-rearing and take care of elderly parents and grandparents while the husbands offered little support and help and don't want that life. They want to travel and spend their money on having fun instead of being stuck in a house with an extended family. I know quite a few women who grew up in the bubble era and are now in the 55 to 65 year old range who are not married and have no children so this is not a new phenomenon, although it is expanding. It also has nothing to do with defense spending. It's a personal choice to pamper themselves and not be stressed out in life like their mothers. Spending more money on ways to support young families would be a step in the right direction but that alone will not solve the problem. Cutting taxes is not going to suddenly change people's minds.

Men who don’t work are considered worthless bums.

RedemptionToday 10:16 am JST

Men who don’t work are considered worthless bums.

As well they should be if they are able-bodied and have no constraints.

Haaa Nemui Today  07:01 am JST

Such an offensive thing to say, especially to the thousands of women who are unable. 

It's very safe to assume that she was not talking about women who, due to some medical or physical condition, are unable to get pregnant.

Also, we're only seeing this one very brief line that was snipped out of an undoubtedly much longer comment or speech.

In other words, we need context. We need that before we can fully judge what she said.

The media are NOTORIOUS for snipping one line out of a person's lengthy comments and framing them in a way that totally bends & twists the person's overall meaning and message.

So let's just make sure that the media are giving Kamikawa-san the same slimy treatment.

So let's just make sure that the media are giving Kamikawa-san the same slimy treatment.

Edit: are *not** *giving Kamikawa-san the same slimy treatment

While known for her efforts to further gender equality

Forget gender equality just think of the women that are trying but can't have children.

11% of women will not be able to have children, the suicide rate among this group is 10% !

Accounting for the largest portion of female suicides.

I know women who have completely isolated themselves because of people like Kamikawa including their family members.

These women won't even go to the hair salon, the office, meet old friends, because inevitably someone is going to say something like:

" so when are you and your husband going to have children?"

"Don't you want children? You are getting old now!"

Or they will go on and on about their children, grandchildren etc ...

This will often send these women into deep depression and suicide!

And yes 99% of the time it is women that say these things like Kamikawa!

How "we women can call ourselves women without giving birth,"

Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa appears to espouse the an age old feudal system reminiscent of the medieval era.

A woman true place is in the home barefoot and pregnant.

Social policies have to reflect a society that values child care provision, a family focused social security system.

Coupled with employment/remuneration housing that can support J families to thrive.

Politically tone-deaf.

@BigP Yes, she's married and has children! And she is the person who ordered the execution of 16 people while she was Justice Minister including 13 members of the Aum cult. And fearing a backlash from Aum, her and her immediate family have to have lifelong police protection. I would say her maternal instincts are questionable.

She has withdrawn the comment, saying she may have been misinterpreted.

Major concern is why these stupid politicians are allowed in power? Stupid politicians begin gaining notices began with trump's MAGA which shamelessly lying 24/7 to grab headlines & media is mostly to blame for allowing/promoting anti democracy ideas of the old dark period when kings&dictators ruled. Demand her resignation so other politicians think twice before making stupid comments.

Moonraker

Today 07:25 am JST

Apparently, she was in front of her supporters, most of whom were women, and over a hundred of them applauded

Yes the same kind of women that push berate other women for not having children without knowing or understanding their private situation!

So these women that are made to feel ashamed and inferior because they are not able to get pregnant and have children, then go home and kill themselves!

Nice job Kamikawa and friends!

JT should be more careful. That is not what she said. She used the word birth so people misunderstood that she was talking about women not having babies. What she said was "Let's create Shizuoka's future through the power of women!" Her choice of words birth and create are where the problem lies, and Japan Today misquoting it for clicks. Shame on ya!

Disgraceful comment.

It's very safe to assume that she was not talking about women who, due to some medical or physical condition, are unable to get pregnant.

She may not have meant that, but it's still an irresponsible comment that fails to acknowledge that point. It's also offensive to those that choose not to for any other reason. I agree, it has probably been taken out of context, but as Simon Foston suggested above, it's very difficult to imagine any acceptable context. The suggestion that women are not women unless they give birth is a stupid comment, period. The woman supposedly known for efforts to improve gender equality in a single comment ridicules those that choose not to when men are free to choose without anywhere near the same level of criticism.

Instead of criticism for not having children, foster an environment where people, both women and men, want to raise a family.

And @Antiquesaving - 100%

sandiegoluv

Today 12:12 pm JST

JT should be more careful. That is not what she said. She used the word birth so people misunderstood that she was talking about women not having babies. What she said was "Let's create Shizuoka's future through the power of women!" Her choice of words birth and create are where the problem lies, and Japan Today misquoting it for clicks. Shame on ya!

No! The LDP supporters trying to cover up is more the problem.

She did say it!

The attempt at justifying it by saying it wasn't meant as an attack on women without children is irrelevant!

It was insensitive, insulting, and shows extremely poor judgement especially from a woman.

If she knew anything about other women, about women issues especially regarding infertility, she would have avoided the reference all together!

What this tells us is she is clueless about problems of 11% of the female population and that is quite a chuck to be clueless about!

You have to question the competence of a politician that makes comments/statements to garner attention of/to a partisan crowd only to have to U turn/retract, to then insist being "quoted misinterpreted out of context"

When the LDP is fully able to confront the reasons that depopulation has taken hold, then J people electorate must expect more of these gaffe prone J politician's to make ill judged outburst's.

Your outrage is understandable, if what she said was actually that. I never said she said something and didn't mean to attack woman. What she said was...

Let's create Shizuoka's future through the power of women!" 

She used birth instead of create.

I'm sorry did you see the actually video?

the most patriotic thing to do at this point is to bear children.

Hard to believe we’re hearing this in 2024.

Forget gender equality just think of the women that are trying but can't have children.

Or even (gasp!) women who choose not to have children.

The politicians of LDP were very sick. Their comments usually came with senseless and tasteless behavior. The people of Japan should response and vote out these abusive people !

sandiegoluv, outrage, more disappointment.

To broach Japan depopulation, requires a complete reform and restructuring of J social welfare system.

Child care provision, housing, early education, a fundamental revision into the social causes of depopulation.

Renumeration, labour contractual employment law, the whole concept of why J people choose not to start a family or turn away from marriage long term relationships.

Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa incoherent verbal stumbling, are a symptom of policy vacuum in government. A refusal take the necessary steps to enact the promises and pledges to reform J economy.

The is more than noticeable inequality in salaried part time/full time contracted staff.

It is shameful, their is still staff/worker some full time/ others part time completing the same tasks however at varying rate of pay.

Toblerone

Today 12:49 pm JST

Forget gender equality just think of the women that are trying but can't have children.

> Or even (gasp!) women who choose not to have children.

I think you missed my point completely!

Women who choose are not killing themselves over family and public pressure!

I think you missed the part where 11% cannot have children and 10% of them will kill themselves!

Considering in the general population 5 out of 100,000 will commit suicide.

Okay, I am not in the LDP, nor can I stand their policies. Furthermore, I resent comments that belittle women as second class, baby producing machines and that women who cannot, are less than. That is an archaic idea that has no business in today's world.

However, I dislike when something is made into what it is not. It just adds to bad blood. With that being said, here is what she said in Japanese and English.

Japanese.

この方を私たち女性が（知事として）生まずして何が女性でしょうか。生まれてくる未来の静岡県を考えると、手を緩めてはいけない。

"What kind of women would we be if we did not (as women) produce someone like her (as governor)? Thinking about the future of Shizuoka Prefecture that is being born, we must not ease our efforts."

There is nothing there that says that women who cannot have children are less than those who can. Now, I wish you all peace and happiness. I'm out. Have a great day.

As usual, JT just "translate" directly from Japanese media who loves to misquote to fit their propaganda.

Her full sentence is "If we women were not the ones that gave birth to this person (Shizuoka's governor candidate, appealing that he will make Shizuoka a better place for everyone), what will be the point of a woman ? If we think about how Shizuoka will become in the future, we can't relax".

She's emphasizing that women are the source of future generations, you can't have people that will be a useful member of society without having children first, regardless of your believes.

The way Japanese grammar is structured, it's easy to misquote in this sentence. No wonder people no longer believe in the mass media.

kibousha

Today 02:02 pm JST

As usual, JT just "translate" directly from Japanese media who loves to misquote to fit their propaganda.

The problem with this constant excuse from supporters is the article is Japanese and in the Japanese article they are directly criticizing her comment and it is Japanese people complaining!

So it has nothing to do with mist interpretation or translation!

Again, the Japanese media in Japanese are pointing out her insensitivity nothing to do with bad translation!

sandiegoluv

Today 01:04 pm JST

See my reply above!

Same for your attempt.

If you are trying to say it is misquoted bad translation, then explain why Japanese language new are criticizing her comment?

Antiquesaving, I was adding to your comment. I hear ya.

LDP politicians seem to think as if female are mere "population-increasing device". Same LDP other female politician Noda even remarks to need measures to low birthrate for the war.

Japan is about to be back to totalitarianism.

Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on Saturday asked constituents how "we women can call ourselves women without giving birth," equating the importance of childbirth to electing a new governor in a speech ahead of a gubernatorial election.

It is not PC to say that, but there is a lot of truth in it. Childless leaders naturally have less interest in the future of their country than those who have children and thus care about their future. Applies for males too, of course.

@antiquestanding - I'm going to go back on word this time and reply, but not after that.

The headline says, "Kamikawa queries women's worth without giving birth in election speech." Now, look at the Japanese. "この方を私たち女性が（知事として）生まずして何が女性でしょうか。生まれてくる未来の静岡県を考えると、手を緩めてはいけない。" It does not say anything close to that. It never even comes close to implying, not one single syllable that women who do not have children are not worthy. It never, ever, ever questions their worth. Not once. I have asked numerous Japanese females who are actually liberals if this story is what it is being made out to be, and they said, no.

As for the Japanese media, okay, fine. That is how they reported it. So, what? The Japanese media just like others around the world is famous for clickbait headlines. Getting us enraged, keeps them in business. They know that most are too lazy to do a second of research into the validity of the information we receive.

Kyodo News, which translated the original article, went with the headline and the story and now here we are. Are you surprised or trying to say that the media does not try to get us going?

Look, I am going to say this again, I do not like the LDP. They leave so much to be desired. Nothing but a bunch freeloaders milking the tax payers as much as they can. And their ideas are prehistoric. However, I want to go after them for when they really say stupid things and mean them.

My apologies, but this has been made out to be something it really is not. Her use of the metaphor "give birth" to liken the governor's job to femininity has caused this situation, and it is unfortunate, but making her to say something she wasn't is worse. Now, you can go on arguing, I am done. Have a good one.

I think being in women who cannot have Children isn’t what she is talking about. In fact I am sure every women who can have children could understand the desire, pressure, the joy and disappointment of women who CAN’T have kids. No other women would reduce that women’s status less than. (I’m just so glad nobody has brought transgender into this) lol. Anyway, I believe she isn’t even putting women down who want a career. I think she’s pointing out how mostly men, and some feminists actually put more pressure on women to be “everything” the perfect business women, the ceo, lawyer, doctors, the great mum great wife, and still want them to be “productive” in the world of careers and money. And then ignore and put down women, who just want to have a family, have a “part time” job then get no real support from the very same “politicians (both genders) society, or feminists who blame men for a women NOT having a career or being that ceo. As though ALL women want that career. Not all men want that career either. Most of us are just normal people. Even women who want to marry, have kids, have a family where the women are “happy” to look after the family are at times chastised by feminists. We can be feminists, have a career or have a part time job and look after the family. I don’t believe the average low wage worker can “have it all”. Male or female!

Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa is a experienced politician, a cabinet member, a former Justice minster.

Before walking the tightrope of public speaking, it is essential that politicians listen to, take the guidance from professional political advice, "minders".

Or risk the temptation to blurt out what one is actually thinking.

The broadcast media acutely sensitive to embarrassing examples of inadvertent "gaffes" will spare no one.

I forgot to add something. Articles like this, which exaggerate what was said for clicks, hurt the women's movement which is something I am very much against. I believe it numbs people to the problems women around the country face. When I clicked this article, I was pissed at her. I saw thinking, "Get her out of office, yesterday." Then I did a little research and then I was even more angry. We don't need nonsense like this. Now, I am out.

She should stop trying to keep fossils like Aso happy!

Sack/forcibly retire anyone over 65 in the LDP!

I'm confused. The headline changed are we are still in the original comment section?

By logical extension, men do not have any worth unless they get a woman pregnant?

She asked constituents how "we women can call ourselves women without giving birth," equating the importance of childbirth to electing a new governor.

Two of my aunts couldn't have kids but they were more women and wonderful than this Kamikawa is.

Stupid comment.

I love the idea that, "I have retracted my comments, and therefore never made them." I also think it's pretty funny when these politicians never apologize and just say they were "misunderstood". We know full well what she meant.

Lots of Japanese have repressed thought, because they can say their true feelings of what they like to say

Maybe the government education women to stop flushing baby in toilet, should be more of priority,it obviously lots of these women were not psychological ready to be parents, because they were not emotionally ready or had no support from the man or their family

Why apologize after stating the obvious based on scientific observations? Pussy is for giving birth.

And this is news because, ….? I’m sure women can make their own minds.

Lots of people are not psychological emotionally to accept the care of another person,like a child,when they cannot psychological help themselves

That's a common sense of the conservatives, no? By "we women can call ourselves women without giving birth", she reminds me that we are Homo sapience. I mean, all the economic and social evolution, development and/or progress for thousands years are dismissed or ignored just to show the mere biological fact. Politicians have to use their brain to figure out how to address the issues which women and men in 2024 are facing.

They will always find something wrong to remove women in power.

You are a real woman if you have kids, same with a man.

This is obvious because if you don't have any, there is no future. It is that simple.

It does not mean one cannot bring all other values we know into it but this is secondary to the perpetuation of our species (DNA).

Is it gross to say Japanese will die, as a civilisation, if they don't reproduce ?

The news said "She asked constituents how we women can call ourselves women without giving birth, equating the importance of childbirth to electing a new governor." However, she explained that she meant to say, "I meant to say that you have given birth to me, a member of the House of Representatives, with women's power, and now once again, let's give birth to a governor with women's power," which is naturally understood in context. We feel that this article is the result of a malicious interpretation of a homonym in the Japanese language.

Asiaman7May 19  07:22 am JST

I am no fan of Ms. Kamikawa, but the reports in Japanese indicate that this speech was given to around 100 women, and Ms. Kamikawa was basically stressing that society would have no men without the pain and suffering that women go through in childbirth.

The opposition then jumped on this remark and asserted that she was questioning a women's worth without giving birth.

The opposition saw a chance and created the perfect scorn fest out of nothing, and people buy into it straight away, hook, line and sinker. Much like the storm and carry on surrounding the recent speech made at a catholic university by that American football player, Harrison Butker. All the commentators came out of their caves en masse and went on the attack. How dare he share his message that having children and a family are a path to happiness, joy and fulfillment? The nerve of some people! Disgraceful.

Japan needs kids, that’s not rocket science, yet this message was taken out of context and twisted by an opportunist opposition known for having very little to offer other than constant yelling and scorn. ( hence what 70 years of the LDP?? ) Taking a play out of the destructive playbook from the west denouncing the call to love and family. I wonder if anyone bothered to check and ask how the whole speech went down to the actual audience In attendance. Would be more interested to hear their reaction than this one. Politics has become a blood sport, when it doesn’t have to be at all. The battle of ideas, not of people should be the goal.

Well, whatever is discussed here, in fact the practice will decide how it ends up finally. In general, not one by one individually, the genders of course have their roles in a society, if they like it or not isn't the point. You can soon see the results of a few examples when they act the opposite way, like young Ukrainian men fleeing the country or front and from their role of defending and dying for own country or in this case here young women denying their role of giving births for having a country's future generations. That raisin picking for only very individual advantages is of course still possible and free to choose from, but it then comes on the other hand at extremely high costs for the whole society, up to even risking future existence as a whole.

I think this comment was made in the context of women who don't want to have children, but Kamikawa failed to clarify that she didn't mean those who can't.

She should have stood her ground and clarified her statement instead of cowering to the braying mob that looks for offence under every grain of sand these days. Japan is just one of many countries that really needs a politician with a spine.

Kamikawa said so she has to 'own' it, but why do these things continue to happen to female politicians whom the public become well acquainted with - Tanaka, Obuchi, Renho?

As a foreigner I still see that Japans main problem is Patriarchy, it has been this way for centuries and will take a few decades to change, but even then, change will only be partially accepted by men, who some how think they always and will be the dominant force. Most men feel it is their right to be leaders and head of house holds, even if the contribute little or next to nothing. What they do not realise is that with out women there woud be no population and the overwhelming majority of them rely on women just to survive.....the end....a female.

@dagon

Japanese politics looks to be suffering the same degradation of discourse as in other nations like the USA.

Why do people try to connect bad things in Japan with bad things in the US?

These comments have nothing to do with the US.

Politics are nasty in pretty much every country in the world.

As a foreigner I still see that Japans main problem is Patriarchy, it has been this way for centuries and will take a few decades to change, but even then, change will only be partially accepted by men, who some how think they always and will be the dominant force. Most men feel it is their right to be leaders and head of house holds, even if the contribute little or next to nothing. What they do not realise is that with out women there woud be no population and the overwhelming majority of them rely on women just to survive.....the end....a female.

I'm a foreigner too and I have seen a lot of married men who strike me as henpecked.

One reason some men do not do housework is that when they tried to help, they were instantly rebuked for not doing it their wife's way, and quickly realized that the best route to marital harmony was to keep out of the way. Good luck to any man out there trying to convince a Japanese woman that housework can be done in a better way than their wife's way. There are certain things I won't do, mostly washing anyone else's clothes, for this reason.

Note that a growing trend is for men who don't have overtime at work to not go home anyway, because they do not feel comfortable in their own home. They will go to a bar or stand and read comics in a convenience store. Anything to avoid going home and getting in the way.

Why do people try to connect bad things in Japan with bad things in the US?

These comments have nothing to do with the US.

Politics are nasty in pretty much every country in the world.

Because both sides of U.S politics has unfortunately become a brand Masterblaster ( great name , awesome song ) , a franchise even! Trust me, the Japanese opposition party didn’t create nor pick up identity politics on its own. It’s a convenient import for those that can’t think for themselves.

Japan must reproduce or it will fade into oblivion.