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Ishiba misses APEC group photo session due to traffic jam

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I have no words ...

He said Ishiba was caught in heavy traffic caused by an accident while returning to the summit venue after laying flowers at the grave of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori in the suburbs of Lima.

-5 ( +10 / -15 )

He said Ishiba was caught in heavy traffic caused by an accident while returning to the summit venue after laying flowers at the grave of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori …

.*

* What is the current prime minister of Japan doing laying flowers at the grave of a convicted criminal?

The purpose of visiting Peru was to attend an APEC Summit not to embark on private errands!

Is this how Japanese taxpayers money is used?

Totally unconscionable!

-6 ( +14 / -20 )

You’ve got to be jesting. Ishibasan tanomuyo!

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

Probably dozed off and wasn't able to leave earlier.

-4 ( +12 / -16 )

Just a taste of the string of international embarrassments to come.

-3 ( +14 / -17 )

He said Ishiba was caught in heavy traffic caused by

They should have told him "You're not in your country, this is Pe-ru! iiwake iun janee yo!"

Ishiba would understand as this is a common saying in his home country.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

maybe it was karma. he would have stayed away from any association with controversial dictator and embezzler fujumori..

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Fujimori was a dictator, a head of state should not visit his grave and lay flowers

18 ( +21 / -3 )

I suspect the sad truth is that Ishiba was already so irrelevant that no one cared !or noticed he wasn’t present.

-7 ( +8 / -15 )

Flowers for a felon, a ruthless killer and all. Shameless and despicable hypocrisy.

Moderator: Thanks for your contribution. Your comment has been featured in the latest episode of the Japan This Week podcast. Visit the Japan Today top page to listen.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

I have no words ...

He said Ishiba was caught in heavy traffic caused by an accident while returning to the summit venue after laying flowers at the grave of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori in the suburbs of Lima.

He didn't want to be stuck in the back row like Biden was in the corner. When was the last time a sitting US President was in the back row hidden insignificantly in the corner?

-15 ( +5 / -20 )

"As the photo session was held at the end of the meeting, the absence did not affect the relationship-building process with the other leaders."

It just shows that the world can go forward without Japan.

caught in heavy traffic caused by an accident while returning to the summit venue after laying flowers at the grave of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori in the suburbs of Lima

Other leaders from free world would stay away from Alberto Fujimori, a human right violator that run his own death squad that killed dozens of people.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/09/11/alberto-fujimori-peru-president-dead-obit/

https://www.amnesty.org/es/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/amr460072005en.pdf

-13 ( +10 / -23 )

Wait, what?!? He managed to embarrass himself and Japan twice in 1 day.

Once by laying flowers to an ex dictator, criminal and murderer, and 2nd, for not having enough spare time to meet the other representative for a photo session. This is so embarrassing on so many levels.

How come Japan always manage to cry and pay respects to genocidal maniac and murderer, either if is in Japan or abroad?!

And the irony is that, the most punctuality known country in the world, was the only one who was late to the summit.

I am very curious how will the Japanese people going to react to this bufon as PM.

-11 ( +12 / -23 )

The Japanese on this article: We must defend Fujimori because he was Japanese and Ishiba because he was just paying his respects to a Japanese. It's not important that Fujimori was a ruthless, convicted dictator and that Ishiba is PM of Japan. LOL!

-8 ( +12 / -20 )

No loss. These gabfests don't deliver much for the countries being represented.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

Ishiba misses APEC group photo session 

Isn't that the Japanese PM's only duty? To take photo opps. Can't even do that right, huh ISHI?

Maybe next time learn some time management.

And was he the ONLY one who missed it?

ooops. I guess it didn't matter if he was even there or not.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

Overslept old man ?

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

MilesTeg:

The Japanese on this article: We must defend Fujimori because he was Japanese and Ishiba because he was just paying his respects to a Japanese. It's not important that Fujimori was a ruthless, convicted dictator and that Ishiba is PM of Japan. LOL!

Yes, that’s more or less correct. I can say this from a Japanese perspective. I am pleased that Ishiba paid his respects to the late Peruvian President Fujimori. I appreciate that he missed a meaningless photo opportunity while do so. I am happy that this photo will forever remind us of why he was absent.

That said, paying respects to Fujimori does not mean condoning everything he did. No one can accept some of his actions. However, the era in which he lived was one where the world was under the threat of communism, with revolutionary wars happening everywhere. Peru was no exception. Unlike some other South American countries, Peru was saved by Fujimori’s strong anti-communist leadership. I too sincerely pay my respects to the late President Fujimori, who was a descendant of Japanese immigrants.

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

He should be fired. Travel all that way on Japanese tax payers money and not arrive early. Sounds like an American excuse to me. Did he get a paper note, like they hand out at train stations in morning, from the cops? lol. Japanese being on time was a cultural trait. He really is the best Japan can select?

Moderator: Thanks for your contribution. Your comment has been featured in the latest episode of the Japan This Week podcast. Visit the Japan Today top page to listen.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Everyone else had no issue. Why did he? Doesn’t make sense at all.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Peru at the front, in the centre. On either side, China and HKSAR. At the back corner where nobody wants to be USA. Japan nowhere to be seen. Canada and Oz (not sure, so far away it seems insignificant) on the far left. A photo mirroring the current state of world affairs?

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Did they get wind that he was at Fujimori's grave, and do the photo shoot without him?

Abe had a soft spot for hard men (oh, Mrs!), too, hosting Robert Mugabe of all people.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

He said Ishiba was caught in heavy traffic caused by an accident while returning to the summit venue after laying flowers at the grave of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori in the suburbs of Lima.

Pathetic, LOL!!..

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

China in the center of the photo and the US in a far corner..

LOOOOOL

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Peru at the front, in the centre. On either side, China and HKSAR. At the back corner where nobody wants to be USA. Japan nowhere to be seen. Canada and Oz (not sure, so far away it seems insignificant) on the far left. A photo mirroring the current state of world affairs?

China in the center of the photo and the US in a far corner..

LOOOOOL

I know we're not exactly dealing with the board's best and brightest here, but imagine being so delusional that the placement of figures in a photo op is what you cling to to highlight your ideologies supposed superiority?

Downright embarrassing, if not totally unsurprising.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

TokyoLivingToday 12:47 am JST

China in the center of the photo and the US in a far corner..

LOOOOOL

You see, in a democracy, you have to give up power rather than clinging to it until you die.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It's been a rough month for China. If they can be excited by retiring Biden being sidelined, I say they've earned a day in the sun.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Alberto Fujimori was a convicted murderer of at least 25 people…

Downvote the fact!

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Fujimori's 'government was characterised by its use of propaganda, widespread political corruption, and human rights violations.' [wikipedia]

Laying flowers on his grave is an insult to Fujimori's many victims. It is as bad as visiting the Yasukuni shrine. Japan's support for Fujimori is a stain on its reputation.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Should have called an Uber Driver they know the local roads and can avoid traffic jams.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

GBR48:

Fujimori's 'government was characterised by its use of propaganda, widespread political corruption, and human rights violations.' [wikipedia]

You must consider the context of the era he governed. The George H. W. Bush administration officially recognized Fujimori as the legitimate leader of Peru due to his firm opposition to the Shining Path. The Shining Path was a far-left political party and guerrilla group in Peru, following Marxism–Leninism–Maoism. It sought to establish a dictatorship of the proletariat, initiate a cultural revolution, and eventually spark a global revolution to achieve full communism. The Shining Path was widely condemned for its extreme brutality, including violence against peasants, trade union organizers, rival Marxist groups, elected officials, and civilians. It is designated as a terrorist organization by the Peruvian government, as well as by Japan, the United States, the European Union, and Canada.

Fujimori employed both military and political strategies to combat this Communist-terrorist group. While his methods were sometimes criticized, they significantly diminished the influence of the Shining Path, effectively preventing a communist revolution in Peru.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Unlike some other South American countries, Peru was saved by Fujimori’s strong anti-communist leadership. I too sincerely pay my respects to the late President Fujimori, who was a descendant of Japanese immigrants.

Interesting apologist claptrap from a Japanese perspective on Fujimori.

It mirrors that used by Pinochet in Chile and the junta in Argentina.

As trade unionists were tossed from helicopters and activist students were 'disappeared' to be tortured in dungeons by the dictator's death squads, the 'fighting international communism' excuse was trotted out.

Figures Ishiba and the LDP have sympathies with this anti-democratic sentiment.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@dagon

Interesting apologist claptrap from a Japanese perspective on Fujimori.

Here is what Peruvians think who he is:

"Despite his convictions for corruption and human rights abuses, many see the president who has died at 86 as the country’s greatest leader....To many, he will always be the cynical autocrat whose corruption, hunger for power and disdain for human rights poisoned the nation. To others, he will forever remain the political outsider who came from nowhere but somehow managed to defeat the twin scourges of terrorism and hyperinflation. Those in the latter camp were evident on the streets outside the culture ministry on Thursday, where they queued, cheered and cried as they reminisced about the man affectionately known as “El Chino”, while floral wreaths sent by the country’s business elite piled up." (The Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/14/transformative-for-better-and-for-worse-whats-the-legacy-of-perus-alberto-fujimori

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Fujimori employed both military and political strategies to combat this Communist-terrorist group. While his methods were sometimes criticized, they significantly diminished the influence of the Shining Path, effectively preventing a communist revolution in Peru.

They are talking about his human rights violations and political corruption. Are you saying he was a dictator and a murderer because he was fighting communism?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

You can't even blame a typhoon or major earthquake in Japan for being late -- it is such a serious faux pas that people have slept in offices when the weather is for fear or missing a train or what not the next morning, and yet Ishiba was late because he was delivering flowers to the grave of a criminal??

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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