Media continue to hound Yamamoto over imperial taboo

I really think this speaks volumes about the Japanese media and to a lesser extent, Japanese society itself.

all the while they should be out hounding TEPCO.

And all the while they should be out hounding not only TEPCO, but also Abe and his LDP cronies, especially those who laughed during a Diet session about the situation up at the destroyed nuclear power facilities in Fukushima Prefecture.

. In 2011, he announced that he "would no longer be a silent accomplice of the terrorist nation Japan", and became a protester in the anti-nuclear movement.

What etiquette? The Japanese follow it so strictly that they fail to realise what needs immediate attention. And so, the further slide down the tubes begin.

all the while they should be out hounding TEPCO. +1. i really want to know what emperor actually thinks about all this....

When you're an activist, you're not a comedian or actor or "talent." We don't want to watch you do goofy things on TV if you're to push some agenda.

@ffds: Emperor Akihito addressed the nation at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on March 16, 2011, after the powerful earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan. He has visited Fukushima people at least 3 times.

Put into the balance "outrage to the etiquette" vs. "Fukushima disaster handling"!

What is the most important?

If this guy believe outraging the etiquette may help the Fukushima disaster handling, this is a brave act. If he fail, what really matter the outrage of the etiquette.

Most important, he may have outraged the etiquette, but not in an activist and aggressive manner. Hence if the emperor is wise - as he is supposed to be - I am sure he will not take it as an outrage. But the puppet handling guys around may…

If the emperor cannot speak up for his most unfortunate people, what is his role, honestly?

@Opem: He already spoke to Fukushiima unfortunate people 3 timex directly. Emperor;'s role? His role as Emperor is specified in Chapter 1 (Artile 1 - 8) of Japanese constitution, There is Constitution of Japan you can find in Wikipedia. You will see Japanese people have freedom but the Emperor does not. There could be politicians who want to use Emperor as a puppet of their political agenda but so far he is safe.

Japanese people pretended The Emperor was God. We used to say anyone who has to use 'Gofujou" is not God. I think younger people think this way, more than we old people. Poor Emperor. He is 80 years old and he can not retire/ He can not go to shopping and he can not handle hie monwy accorfig to Ar6icle 98. If he help politicls, Japanese Govt and Constitution expert has to discuss how to punish him days and nights because he violated Aricicle 98 of Constitution/ Fortunately to Him, Empress tapped his elbow so that he did not read and gave the letter to Otsuki-no-hito.

nothing but politicising the emperor

But the current government has no problem with repeated calls by some cabinet members that the Emperor should visit Yasukuni. Nothing political about that. Nor is there any outrage, including from the media, about Abe using Princess Takamado to sell Tokyo 2020 to the IOC.

Had Yamamoto given the emperor a letter requesting he support Tokyo and Osaka's ordinances requiring public school teachers to sing kimigayo, I doubt there would have been anything close to this kerfuffle.

Some people in this country still consider the emperor to be sacred

Yeah, maybe about .0001%. The 'culture' card is played when convenient.

Princess is not Emperor whose activity is restricted by Japanese Constitution Article 1 to 8 and 98 and 99. This article is about what Yamamoto did, not if what he wrote or people's guess. Just his action that he gave a letter of Emperor disregading SeiGanHo. plasticmonkey: How about write the name of Cabinet members who openly said Emperor to go to Yasukuni. Now, Princess is not Emperor whose action is restricted by Constitution 1Article 1 through 8 and 98 and 99. What Yamamoto did was JikiSo. The entire text of Yamamoto's letter has not been released by Japanese Diet. Anyone can guess but guess is not fact. Please write your comment wtth fact. I wrote about Emperor's action toward Fujusima people and Yamamoto;s open comment regarding his concept of the terrorist county Japan. these are not my guess. Please read them.

plasticmonkey: How about write the name of Cabinet members who openly said Emperor to go to Yasukuni.

Aso, for one. Hagiuda, Abe's special advisor, for two.

Princess is not Emperor whose action is restricted by Constitution 1Article 1 through 8 and 98 and 99.

I think it's pretty clear that the uproar is not about violating the letter of the law. Yamamoto is outspoken about the folly of nuclear power, and the LDP don't like it. Just take a look at how Abe has stacked the NHK board with cronies who want the broadcaster to be more pro-nuclear, and more 'conservative' in general.

@plastic monkey: Thanks for replying. People you mentioned are not japanese Cabinet members and what they said are their personal opinions. Just like any Japanese people have or haven;t. Following is Cabinet (Naikaku) powers. Explicit powers Execution of the law. Conduct of foreign affairs. Conclusion of treaties (with the consent of the Diet). Administration of the civil service. Drafting of the budget (which must be adopted by the Diet). Adoption of cabinet orders. Granting of general amnesty, special amnesty, commutation of punishment, reprieve, and restoration of rights. Every law or cabinet order is signed by the relevant Minister of State and countersigned by the Prime Minister. Appointment of the associate justices of the Supreme Court of Japan (except the Chief Justice, who is designated by the Prime Minister and formally appointed by the Emperor). Appointment of vice-ministers (who are nominated by the minister to whom they will report).

Abe has nothing to do regarding Yamamoto;'s action. Just Yamamoto and his action at garden party. Just Yamamoto for not using Seiganho. He is new so he thought he has to do his way in this terrrorist country, Japan like when he used media to apeak up about terririst country Japan.

People you mentioned are not japanese Cabinet members

Taro Aso is Finance Minister. The rest of your post simply obfuscates the obvious reason for why the LDP are so outraged.

Toshiko it seems to me that you still regard the emperor as divine, untouched from day to day society in every way possible. Yes he has visited Fukushima 3 times, and? National figureheads do it all the time: they make it seem like they care to appease the populace. In reality the emperor cannot do anything about Fukushima. All he can do is sit back and watch the diet go to work. Yes what he did should not have been done but the point is that people should not be making such a huge deal over it. His punishment should not be entertainment for the populace, the only reason they are doing this is to make an example of those that share his views and nothing more.

@plasticmonkey: I misread Aso as AS. Although he is Catholic, he visited Yasukuni. He is a Diet Member, because he is Minister of several ministries. However, he did not propose Emperor to visit Yasukuni. He is one of biggest mouth lawmakers but he has not proposed to make Emperor visit Yasukuni. /It is obvious Yamamoto did not know Emperor made statement and visited Fukushima people He is already scolded so, I don;t think any further punishment he willl receive. Article 50 of Constitution protectt elected lawmakers will not be prosecuted whileel Diet is on session. Kunaicho officials briefs news to Emperor but Yamamoto though Emperor is ignorant on news? A majority of Japanese people, especdially Fukushima people know Emperor's speech and his visits but Yamamoto did not know? Maybe he is studying Constitution now? BTW, your comic picture is cute/