As Japan emerges from a rather long holiday season, everyone is gearing up to get back to the daily grind, but the much needed downtime allowed many of us to catch up on a few chores around the house. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is no exception either, according to a video that has been doing the rounds on social media.
This simple seven-second clip, originally posted on the PM’s official Instagram account on May 2 but made popular by Wall Street Journal writer Mike Bird (@Birdyword), shows Japan’s soon-to-be longest-serving prime minister installing a beaver-shaped door knocker on the front door of one of his residences, followed by his wife Akie Abe gleefully giving the beaver a few knocks herself.
The depiction of such a simple pleasure in life has caught the attention of many, with the video racking up about two and a half million views. Everyone seemed to see something a little different in it too, according to the comments.
“Why am I watching this on a loop? Why is it so soothing?”
“Having watched this too many times, I’ve come to the conclusion that Abe needs to add a second nail further down.”
”I think the reason this is so satisfying to watch is because the music is in time with the hammering.”
“This is why the Internet was invented. Content like this. Hard follow.”
“This is such a Japanese dad thing to do.”
“This is going to be a Netflix series, isn’t it?”
“Hook this up to my veins.”
“He needs to use a screw not a nail for that.”
“The Japanese Prime Minister establishes a beaver knocker and the Japanese Prime Minister’s wife uses it… beautiful harmony.”
“This is some seriously Canadian video.”
We can’t help but agree with some of the comments that Abe’s installation was a little wonky. You can see it wobbling even as his wife tries it out. A second nail at the bottom or a power-drilled screw probably would have been more stable and long-lasting. Heck, even a simple slap of rolled duct tape along the bottom would have helped.
By the way, the beaver was carved at the Quebec workshop of artists Jean-Lionel and Denis Tremblay who also happen to be one of, if not the, biggest producers of wooden ducks in the country. Initial reports suggested that it was purchased by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office and given to Abe as a gift, but it was subsequently reported that Abe had bought it himself.
Comments on the video have come in from all over the world including countries like India and China. It’s interesting to see that this simple look at the prime minister in a pink shirt attracted more instant global goodwill than a stylish commissioned painting by one of Japan’s most distinctive artists depicting him as a square-jawed samurai. Perhaps it’s a sign that what people want most of all from politicians these days, is normalcy.
Source: Toychan, Twitter/@Birdyword, Global News
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© SoraNews24
20 Comments
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Bintaro
Looks like it's the first time Abe uses a hammer and nail.
Gorramcowboy
Maybe he should have been wearing can Canadian tux to really make it Canadian...eh.
A Canadian doorknocker...please.
FizzBit
Knockers and beaver oh my
Goodlucktoyou
Maybe trump won’t do the abductees speech, so his PR group told him to try a different angle for the elections.
englisc aspyrgend
The interesting thing isn’t that he did it or what he used but the reaction to it. May be he and his advisers need to take that on board and give it some serious thought.
GW
….should have been a woodpecker not a beaver~!~!
showchinmono
You don't have to bite at every Abe's action unless it's your job w
Jandworld
yeah those knockers, any brits around?
Akie
Abe is so cheap. Everything western is better, even rotten wood.
extanker
The man can't even install a door knocker without getting slammed by you. Classy.
Jeff Huffman
Installing it with a nail? Fail.
Akie
The Canadian beaker is so fat in contrast to Japanese petty bird.
extanker
It's a beaver. Of course it is bigger than a bird.
Fox Sora Winters
Well, you don't see that every day, and I think that's what I like most about it. Sure, it might not be the right tools for the job, and it may be a little wonky, but that's half the fun of DIY, isn't it? Doing it yourself? It makes a nice change to see a world leader getting their hands dirty, without that involving corruption, despotism or genocide.
Just a shame the the usual critics have to pounce on the opportunity to bad-mouth him. One day they'll grow up. One day...
Cameron
Decades ago I gave an old friend in the countryside here a woodpecker wooden knocker akin to that from my homeland. Everyone loved it. And he installed it himself. Just like our PM. Nice to see him doing something perfectly normal.
Kobe White Bar Owner
Found his "calling".
browny1
Jeff HuffmanToday 01:34 am JST
Installing it with a nail? Fail.
Actually i thought the same thing when I saw it.
A nice memento like this banged on with a nail.
I must be old school DIY - stainless screw recessed and cover the indent with colored filler.
But I guess it's good PR for the believers - gee ol' Abe's so versatile. lol.
AlexBecu
Surprised he has the time.
His been overseas working hard to get Japan more connected globally, sign new deals, and improve relations with many countries, including China.
Wish he was tougher on S. Korea, weak response and he paid compesation too which many of us knew S Korea will back out of it.