Abe criticized over lounging-at-home Twitter video

He does not have any bills problems , does not have kids to feed .

I just hoped he feels how the ordinary man is suffering and waiting for government help

Tone deaf and out of touch with your average worker, who coincidentally I see commuting to their offices this morning on trains that are still too crowded. Of course Abe can stay home and still get paid, not to mention all the inherited wealth and privilege. Most cannot, and guess why--b/c this government is too stingy to support companies in desperate straits. Criticism richly deserved and good god could they find more incompetent PR lackeys?

Before everyone gets angry about him lounging around at home, just remember that he also sleeps during Diet sessions.

One would hope, at the very least, he is reading government and experts reports and reviewing policy documents. He's the PM at the time of a unique crisis. Step up and work for all people!

I think he is the only country leader taking a day off.

This is a real "let them eat cake " moment. Many people are struggling, no jobs, small house or apartment, unsure of what is going to happen next, but here we have our golden boy, born rich who has never had to work hard for anything, sitting with his lap dog, looking princely! Bad optics for sure.

Sorry, I'll rake Shin-chan over the coals as quickly as the next guy. I do think as a Prime Minister he's a muppet and a failure.

Beautifully spoken mate!!

But in this case, a video of him lounging on a sofa with a dog, drinking tea? I don't really see the problem there. Sounds like some folks are trying to e-ijime him or something, and want to have their tempest in a teapot.

Yeeesss, BUT this is the guy who refused to take initiative and at least ask the IOC to postpone the olympics. Now all of a sudden, he's asking people to stay home? And he hasn't provided the people here with the same aid package that other countries like Canada have for their people.

He is sitting at home and people are not being admitted to hospital! Get your #!#! together please!

He's human, it's fine for him to have some downtime.

But....his income is secure and guaranteed by us, from our taxes.

His Government needs to make a more clear and concerted effort to allow us a sense of financial security and proactively testing for the virus, and for those with antibodies.

its great that his life is so exciting that he can sit on the couch with his dog and cuppa and watch businesses ruined and people’s jobs evaporated on the tele.

Aly:

And he hasn't provided the people here with the same aid package that other countries like Canada have for their people.

To be fair, he's probably preparing aid packages at home - stuffing envelopes with coupons for wagyu beef.

The straw that breaks the camel's back?

I doubt it. Look at China - people were angry at first, especially after that doctor died. Now? Back to business. It's the same with Japan's love and hate relationship with the LDP. Scandal after scandal, and yet the LDP always rebound. The difference is that Japan is supposed to be a democracy and there are elections. I stopped caring years ago. You get what you voted for.

Yeah he is allowed a day off it's not like he is running a country or something like that.

I read elsewhere that he didn't even ask permission from the singer to use his song. just did it.

Ricky Kaminski13Today  12:00 pm JST

PM Abe will need to quickly become a Winston Churchill type figure otherwise things will go sideways real fast. Hope he can do it, we shall see what he is made of.

I think we'll find that he's more like a Neville Chamberlain type figure but without the management or political skills.

Leave him alone...this is his legacy.

I will soon be laid off and left with bills to pay like my health insurance at around ¥36,000 a month not to mention pension and other stuff ...

perhaps i will get a lap dog and lounge around all day in a stupor that ought to fix my financial woes..

The man is living in some kind of elite bubble...

sigh....

It's true the Japanese people get what they voted for.

But's also true they don't know any better due to the influence which the LDP has over the media and education.

Things such as the "kissha club" press system are out of the domain of public control, but educators certainly could do more...and obviously don't.

We all know watered down drinks have no kick.

Sorry, I'll rake Shin-chan over the coals as quickly as the next guy. I do think as a Prime Minister he's a muppet and a failure.

But in this case, a video of him lounging on a sofa with a dog, drinking tea? I don't really see the problem there. Sounds like some folks are trying to e-ijime him or something, and want to have their tempest in a teapot.

I suppose at least he didn't sing imagine!!

But poor Shinzo he can't get a lucky break.

He wanted to be a statesman, do the fun stuff like G 7 summits, Olympic games, where you do nothing just look statesman like and along comes this mendokusai virus and puts you on the spot.

Have some sympathy folks

It’s quite depressing that for all the bad things Abe has done during his tenure of PM, some people get outraged at him sitting on a sofa with a dog.

@David Varnes

exactly what I was thinking. As much as I think he’s not handling things well, it’s not like he can’t take a break. Working full time makes one tired... even if they’re not good at what they do, hehehe!

he’s just a guy after all

Japanese hold their politicians accountable, I will give them that.

Whereas we Americans had best never question or complain when ours dance and clown on youtube.

Torn on this one. I can see how people might be angry -- the guy is out of touch with reality and only wants what's good for him and his personal goals, while many people are forced to go to work, then stay home in their down time, and may not have such luxury to do it in, and are getting ZERO help from this man. On the other hand, it was a Sunday after all; I mean he COULD be calling for extraordinary DIET sessions on weekends to resolve some economical issues and get people the help they need, but agreed he does need down time, too.

Not an Abe fan but the pic does not exactly seem like luxury flaunting. More twitter rejects offended about nothing.

I will soon be laid off and left with bills to pay like my health insurance at around ¥36,000 a month not to mention pension and other stuff ... perhaps i will get a lap dog and lounge around all day in a stupor that ought to fix my financial woes.. The man is living in some kind of elite bubble...

I am Abe's biggest critic but sitting at home petting your dog is not a crime people get real please

I think a few people here are missing some reality here. Do you really think that that is what he is doing on his day off. It is just a PR video to try and get the population to do the right thing and stay home.

I understand the need to try and get people to stay home. But him doing a video like that, without a worry about money or future (money wise) is rubbing some poeple's nose's the wrong way. How are most people who STAY HOME going to relax. No work = no money. And many people don't have $$$$ enough. He comes from a super rich family, he is loaded. It is not that he is not allowed to stay home and relax with his dog.

It is that most people can't do that. 3 kids screaming. trying to keep kids accupied, fed etc.

I bet a soon as that video shoot was finished he was back in a suit and back at work.

We are about to see the other side of the projected identity and cultural “harmony” that has had the nation in a prolonged slumber for decades. Some of the angry monologues and rants floating around on SNS are already an insightful preview of things to come.

We need Abe to look the camera in the eye, speak from the heart and rise to the dire occasion. Human nature is a fickle beast and the shadows of our collective psyches are rumbling. PM Abe will need to quickly become a Winston Churchill type figure otherwise things will go sideways real fast. Hope he can do it, we shall see what he is made of. Gambare Everyone!

Now Hoshino Gen has had to come out and claim this was not political after being criticized for being a tool of the Abe government!

I don’t claim Abe doesn’t deserve time off or time to relax, but as I stated above, it’s the optics that look bad and angers people.

People suffering in many areas of must-work or preventing infection at home, and what is that? From a future vision it's just SHAME on you Mr. Abe! You can do what he wants in your house but never to show that image on videos via SN. That's really shame!

Oops, he is you.

katyToday  12:30 pm JST

I see nothing wrong in this photo

He needs rest , relax at home as all of us

what’s wrong ?

In a time of international crisis he does not need to release photos of himself enjoying his rest and relaxing at home. There's no denying that everyone needs time off their work, but I think it's generally agreed that world leaders should at least try to look like they're keeping busy.

TheLongTermerToday  02:22 pm JST

Japanese hold their politicians accountable, I will give them that.

Not really. As useless, corrupt, scandal-prone and morally bankrupt as they may be, the LDP keep getting re-elected and Shinzo Abe has hung on as prime minister since 2012.

Just seen the video. I have seen productions in a theatre less staged. All staged to encourage people to stay at home. Like the rest of the world.

The authorities will feed themselves. These are not ordinary people with ordinary problems.

Huh?, he's now doing Selfie videos of himself to post on youtube ? Yuk... I mean, he's got all the appeal of something lying on the pavement waiting for you to step onto it and leaving a smelly slippery mess behind.

He's just "leading" by example.

People need to lay off the Muppet for doing what everyone else should be doing.

Just hope he clicked the Send button for sending out emergency money for those that are without.

Government should be on call 24/7 during a crisis like this...

A government PR video trying to encourage people to stay at home, duh just like every other country/leader and everyone gets upset because the leader of the country isn’t living in poverty? Every country has an official residence for its leader, some like the French president live in a palace others in a house more palatial than some palaces. Get real people; most people’s residence around the world are not designed for everyone to be in all the time for extended periods. It’s a sacrifice some of us have been living with for weeks or even months. Get over it.

I live in New Zealand. I have visited Japan many times, Japan is my Spiritual Home.

I spend hours each day reading & learning about Japan, I will retire to Japan once everything settles down.

Now, my point is this, Abe San is human. This man is everywhere all the time. I meet Abe San in Christchurch

when he visited us after our tragic earthquakes.

So your Prime Minister takes a bit of down-time, reconnects with family, reconnects with his surroundings,

the man has a cup of tea, no drugs, no alcohol, a cup of tea.

In these times leaders of Countries find themselves in a lose lose situation. Dammed if you do, Dammed if you don't. Our Prime Minister is a Hero To Us, She leads from the Front, as does Abe San.

How would you react if trump was your Prime Minister? Think about that for a while.

Abe San is not perfect but at the end of the day he has your best interests at heart.

I don't see what the problem is! The dude is chillin' at home with his trusted friend, sipping on some tea, minding his own business like Kermit! Would people rather see him shaking hands and taking photos with the infected victims? Leave the dude alone, man! Let him chill! Some people need to chill the duck out!

How about a link to the picture?

I think he is the only country leader taking a day off.

He is imitating Trump for once. Too bad, Shinzo Abe does not have that charisma.

It seems to me the accent in the article is wrong and taken out of context.

The ooint is many talented musicians joined Hoshino Gen and made fantastic collaboration with him staying at home (you should watch the videos).

Then suddenly Abe PM is also there next to him but not singing or playing instrument but posing. And he is under fire in the parliament for not giving hand to the artists who were the first to suffer from the situation with the virus!

Interesting article. It appears that people all over the world likes to point fingers ar those whom seem to or appear to be enjoying life better than themselves because of that person's position or title whose so called responsibility is to make their life better. Somewhat self-righteous but also jealousy added with envy with a different perspective on the possible intent of such videos in their proper context. Or it can be purely a political response to discredit a leader who obviously have been working overtime with the cortna crisis as well as with other international and domestic issues which needs constant attention requiring action, thinking of ways to discredit and open an opportunity to take over that position.

Abe needs a rest just as much as everyone else and at a time when people are stuck at home, it is OK to show a sample of how one may enjoy a stay at home.

This is a real "let them eat cake " moment. 

A guy sitting in a chair at home petting his dog? Give me a break get mad about something real please...

I see nothing wrong in this photo

He needs rest , relax at home as all of us

what’s wrong ?

Poor Abe san, come on boys and girls, just leave him alone. what's wrong with having a day off with his pet and family. I see nothing wrong.

At least the next day he'll get back to work fully recharged.

I dont know much of this Japanese government but I see Abe is doing fine with his leadership trying to balance the economy and public safety.

I’m so tried of these childish political rants from the public. Every leader around the world is imploring their citizen to stay at home using such vids. Are they too dumb to realize that this is a Public Service Announcement? I feel sorry for Abe; moreover, Twitter is the home of bots and trolls, so this can be an organized political attack by some groups