Fukuda Kenji, the mayor of Nakama City in Fukuoka Prefecture, after remarking at a party for an independent professional baseball team that "speeches and women's skirts should both be as short as possible."
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I was just trying to break the ice at the party, but as an elected official, I now realize I should be much more careful about what I say.
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JeffLee
I agree with him. The Japanese must be the worst speech-givers in the world. Too many memories of wedding ceremonies, new year's parties, etc. when I've had to leave the room while some dullard drones on and on for what seems like forever.
Speed
I don't know. This Fukuda Kenji has some food for thought. Hmmm.
ebisen
He's not wrong and he expressed his own opinion and views. He would have gotten exactly the same reaction if he would have said the exact opposite. If you disagree and feel offended, good for you. You just learned about freedom of speech and freedom of thought.
GillislowTier
If he’s just now realizing he should have some kind of thought into the things that come out of his mouth, being a mayor must be a pretty easy job
Gorramcowboy
He's telling it like it is. Can't fault him for that.
Peter Neil
He’s telling it wrong. It’s an old thing from Toastmasters a generation or more ago. Here’s how it goes:
They say speeches should be like women’s skirts — just long enough to cover the important things, but short enough to keep it interesting.
Paustovsky
1972 called and asked for it's joke back.
quercetum
"speeches and women's skirts should both be as short as possible." LOL! that's funny. Good one Kenji.
virusrex
He should be aware long before becoming an elected official, at least his comment is not as bad as some Japanese politicians with decades of careers frequently make, he still have a chance to correct this flaw before reaching those levels.
Mocheake
Can't say I disagree on both accounts. If you have a look at the young women, lots agree on the skirts. A toast!
Sven Asai
Well, there's a saying for such. A true connoisseur is silent and enjoys.
N. Knight
Ha ha ha. Good one Kenji.
Yuuju
A typical narcissist caught in act.
”I was just trying to break the ice…(after publicly insulting all women at one go)”
”I was just trying to motivate people…(after workplace abuse)”
”Everyone makes mistakes, no one’s perfect…well, he’s just a healthy man that he is(after sexual harassment)”
Those justifications surprise me no more. Only the amount of people who says that such statements are funny or nothing to be taken seriously. Next time the public figure for whose behaviours they made excuses is caught in a dirty scandal, I wonder if those same people will merrily laugh off a rape or harassment just like that.
commanteer
Nah. A typical narcissist might instead seek to make every lame joke into a crime, demanding that everyone who laughed at the joke must repent.
Yuuju
commanteer
I think you underestimate narcissists, the situation described above is a typical narcissist caught in act and giving insincere apology that sounds like justification situation.
Peter Neil
Article 21 of the Japanese Constitution: “All people shall have the right to freely express their thoughts and opinions orally, by writing or other means.”
Let the whining begin.
Strangerland
It's amazing how many people bleat on about freedom of speech, without realizing it means the freedom from being prosecuted by the government for your speech. Anyone who whines in a non-ironic manner about freedom of speech when they face social consequences for their speech, is a complete idiot. It's good when they are canceled, as it's not a violation of their freedom of speech, and it saves the rest of us from having to listen to people who are dumb as a post.
CKAI
Exactly what I said!
Wheres the LIE?
He's telling it like it is. Can't fault him for that.
Peter Neil
I knew precisely what would be said. So predictable. :)
Luddite
Stupid man.
Aly Rustom
"speeches and women's skirts should both be as short as possible."
I just wonder what his wife had to say about that.
wanderlust
Foot in mouth disease, followed by pleas of misunderstanding, followed by apology. SOP.