Japanese Karoke Politics! BBC.～カラオケ政治
BBC news had a funny article about japanese politics this is a a short description:
-for the second time in less than a year, an unpopular premier gave up and announced abruptly he was to resign.
-it seems, we are back to the era of karaoke politics in Japan, where in quick succession different members of the ruling elite take turns to step up to the microphone and lead the country.
-the reality is that most Japanese prime ministers stay in office just long enough to meet the US president and get a photo to impress the grandchildren.
-I have been here since 2006. The latest prime minister is the fourth I have seen in office in that short time.
-In and out they go, like they are in a perpetually revolving door.
New prime ministers are appointed before other foreign leaders have had a chance to remember the name of the old one, but it does not seem to do much damage to the country.
-The reason, I am told, is that here the politicians do not actually matter. The country is run by the bureaucrats - the middle managers.
-I noticed he had five pieces of paper with densely typed briefings on his lap, one for each question I was expected to ask.
I started asking them but in the wrong order.
That prompted much harrumphing and agitated shuffling of papers from the audience of advisers clustered around us, but the prime minister, to his credit, soldiered gamely on.
The poor man looked like a puppet though, and the fact that he was clearly an intelligent, talented politician made the whole experience feel that much more depressing.
-Mr Aso is under pressure to call an early general election.
The odds are not looking good. More than half the country disapproves of him and he has been in the job less than a week.
But he has already been to New York and has plans to meet President George Bush in a few weeks' time.
Perhaps wisely, he is getting that important photo opportunity in early. He may not be around for very long.
BBCで見つけた面白い記事。
この１年の間に日本では首相が突然２人も代わるという事態になった。この記者が日本にきてから、実に４人目！まるで回転ドアをくるくる出入りしているかのよう‥
これはまるでカラオケじゃないですか？
みんなで順番にマイクを回して歌うあのカラオケ。自分の番が終わるとさっさと次の人(次の首相）にマイクをまわす。
実際、日本の首相はオフィスで長い時間を過ごしては、アメリカ大統領に会った時には握手をして写真をとり、それを家族代々の家宝にするのだ。
ある時、この記者が福田元首相にインタビューする機会を与えられたという。
インタビューする内容はあらかじめ決められ、首相に渡されてある。
記者はインタビューする、順番を変えてみた。
そうしたらたちまち、周りの人たちが大パニックになった。
福田元首相はというと人事のように、なにも動じない。
それはもちろん、周りの人間が言われたとおりに話すだけの、あやつり人形だから。
こんな政治家ばかりの国が、経済世界第２位？
ああ、そうか！日本を支えているのは、政治家ではないのだ。
近いうちに解散総選挙が行われるだろう。
そのときに、麻生首相が、首相のポジションを守れるかどうかは疑問だ。
首相就任後すぐにニューヨークへ行ったのはそのためか。ブッシュとの写真を撮るよい機会だから。
-for the second time in less than a year, an unpopular premier gave up and announced abruptly he was to resign.
-it seems, we are back to the era of karaoke politics in Japan, where in quick succession different members of the ruling elite take turns to step up to the microphone and lead the country.
-the reality is that most Japanese prime ministers stay in office just long enough to meet the US president and get a photo to impress the grandchildren.
-I have been here since 2006. The latest prime minister is the fourth I have seen in office in that short time.
-In and out they go, like they are in a perpetually revolving door.
New prime ministers are appointed before other foreign leaders have had a chance to remember the name of the old one, but it does not seem to do much damage to the country.
-The reason, I am told, is that here the politicians do not actually matter. The country is run by the bureaucrats - the middle managers.
-I noticed he had five pieces of paper with densely typed briefings on his lap, one for each question I was expected to ask.
I started asking them but in the wrong order.
That prompted much harrumphing and agitated shuffling of papers from the audience of advisers clustered around us, but the prime minister, to his credit, soldiered gamely on.
The poor man looked like a puppet though, and the fact that he was clearly an intelligent, talented politician made the whole experience feel that much more depressing.
-Mr Aso is under pressure to call an early general election.
The odds are not looking good. More than half the country disapproves of him and he has been in the job less than a week.
But he has already been to New York and has plans to meet President George Bush in a few weeks' time.
Perhaps wisely, he is getting that important photo opportunity in early. He may not be around for very long.
BBCで見つけた面白い記事。
この１年の間に日本では首相が突然２人も代わるという事態になった。この記者が日本にきてから、実に４人目！まるで回転ドアをくるくる出入りしているかのよう‥
これはまるでカラオケじゃないですか？
みんなで順番にマイクを回して歌うあのカラオケ。自分の番が終わるとさっさと次の人(次の首相）にマイクをまわす。
実際、日本の首相はオフィスで長い時間を過ごしては、アメリカ大統領に会った時には握手をして写真をとり、それを家族代々の家宝にするのだ。
ある時、この記者が福田元首相にインタビューする機会を与えられたという。
インタビューする内容はあらかじめ決められ、首相に渡されてある。
記者はインタビューする、順番を変えてみた。
そうしたらたちまち、周りの人たちが大パニックになった。
福田元首相はというと人事のように、なにも動じない。
それはもちろん、周りの人間が言われたとおりに話すだけの、あやつり人形だから。
こんな政治家ばかりの国が、経済世界第２位？
ああ、そうか！日本を支えているのは、政治家ではないのだ。
近いうちに解散総選挙が行われるだろう。
そのときに、麻生首相が、首相のポジションを守れるかどうかは疑問だ。
首相就任後すぐにニューヨークへ行ったのはそのためか。ブッシュとの写真を撮るよい機会だから。