DPJ Candidate Worked As Hostess

[Mulboyne]

[floatr][/floatr]Kazumi Ota, currently a member of Chiba Prefectural Assembly, was selected by the Democratic Party of Japan as their official candidate in the by-election for Chiba No 7 constituency. In a mud-slinging campaign, leaflets have been distributed claiming that she was a shoplifting, high-school drop out, bosozoku gang member and a sex-worker. They also say that she sold overpriced textbooks door-to-door as part of a semi-fraudulent scheme. Ota has hit back, admitting that although she did work for two months in a kyabakura ("cabaret club"), the other claims are baseless. A member of her camp said that while she did commute to school by motorbike, she wasn't a gang member. Also, she was in juvenile protective custody for a time but not as a result of shoplifting, rather as a consequence of fighting with her parents in a local park. As for the door-to-door sales allegation, her supporters say that she left the company before it engaged in the activities which earned them punitive sanctions. Ota was running level with the LDP candidate in the election and the DPJ see these dirty tricks as an attempt to undermine the party's revival under new leader, Ichiro Ozawa. Former LDP Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori was quoted as saying that these kinds of tactics can backfire, especially when the allegations relate to when a politician was young.

ZakZak story in Japanese
Kazumi Ota Website

[Greji]

admitting that although she did work for two months in a kyabakura ("cabaret club")

What! She was a hooker? I'll vote for her!

[groovewonder]

I'd hit it. If she was younger. :P

[Greji]

I'd hit it. If she was younger. :P

Batsu. Correct answer is: I'd hit it. Yesterday, today and tomorrow. You must be a lot younger than me!

[Mulboyne]

I'd hit it. If she was younger. :P

She'll be 27 in August.

[Mulboyne]

TMC: DPJ candidate leads pack in lower house by-election campaign

...The Kyodo News poll, taken Friday and Saturday, shows the DPJ candidate, Kazumi Ota, 26, ahead of Ken Saito, 46, who is running on the Liberal Democratic Party ticket with the support of the New Komeito party for the by-election in the Chiba No. 7 constituency. Saito, a former Saitama prefectural deputy governor, is closely trailing Ota, a former Chiba prefectural assembly member, the poll found. According to the poll, Ota has secured support from more than 70 percent of DPJ supporters and over 30 percent of unaffiliated voters by taking advantage of her tenure as a prefectural assembly member and her youth. In addition, she is also supported by about 30 percent of New Komeito backers. Specifically, the poll shows that Ota is enjoying broad support and more than 40 percent of people in their 50s are rallying behind her. On the other hand, Saito managed to get backing from 60 percent of LDP supporters and half of New Komeito supporters, according to the poll...more...

[Jack]

Put a little make up on different clothes and she becomes very doable.

[Mulboyne]

She won by a close margin.

Yomiuri: DPJ wins Chiba by-election

In a boost for the dispirited Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party's candidate, Kazumi Ota, clinched a much publicized House of Representatives by-election for Chiba Constituency No. 7 on Sunday. Ota, 26, a former Chiba prefectural assembly member, defeated Liberal Democratic Party candidate Ken Saito and three other contenders to become the youngest member of both Diet chambers. Despite widespread media attention, Sunday's voter turnout was 49.63 percent, down 15.12 percentage points from the 64.75 percent marked in September's general election. With all votes counted, Ota had 87,046 votes against Saito's 86,091...more...

[kamome]

Isn't it hypocritical to limit womens' opportunities in the workplace and then criticize them for taking one of the more lucrative jobs out there for women? Yes, I suppose it is somewhat valid to attach stigma to a politician who previously worked at a kyabakura, but that argument doesn't carry much force. If there were more opportunities for women to find financial success in Japan, perhaps they wouldn't be lured to that industry. Then to fault her for it is a slimy political tactic. Personally, I think a more valid attack would be on her inexperience. At age 26, she doesn't bring much of a background to the job.

In any case, good for her that she won.

[cstaylor]

Well, considering its for the lower house (similar to the House of Representatives in the U.S.) she'll have plenty of on-the-job training as she adjusts to Diet life.

Hopefully she won't screw up as often as that loud mouth bon-bon that keeps making headlines in the Japanese weeklies.

[IkemenTommy]

Doesn't it seem like Japan loves to have these mini-elections every 6 months or so? At least it seems that way.

[Mulboyne]

This ZAKZAK article (Japanese) quotes her supporters claiming that her honest response to the allegations contributed to her win. One commentator suggests that when some voters compared a former hostess with the LDP's bureaucrat candidate, they found more in common with her than the an oyaji from the double-dealing world of Nagatacho. The count was close so there may be something in that.

[kamome]

This ZAKZAK article (Japanese) quotes her supporters claiming that her honest response to the allegations contributed to her win. One commentator suggests that when some voters compared a former hostess with the LDP's bureaucrat candidate, they found more in common with her than the an oyaji from the double-dealing world of Nagatacho. The count was close so there may be something in that.

Yeah, I was surprised by the candor of her response. Not typical of most politicians.

[canman]

I figure now that she has won the election, she will be educated in the ways of a real politician. First, never tell the truth. Look how well its working for the LDP!

[Mulboyne]

Diet debut.

[Yorik]

I'd hit it.

[Greji]

I'd hit it.

Nah, don't waste your time. It wasn't that good!

[Mike Oxlong]

Nah, don't waste your time. It wasn't that good!

You shouldn't have settled for my sloppy seconds:banana:

[Greji]

You shouldn't have settled for my sloppy seconds:banana:

Probably more like mushy 53rd's

[American Oyaji]

Is it my opinion or is she rather tall?

Of course she's cute. No denying that.

And what's with the guy to her right with the clenched jaw?

[Yorik]

Is it my opinion or is she rather tall?

Of course she's cute. No denying that.

And what's with the guy to her right with the clenched jaw?

He's cringing at the stuff dripping down her leg..

[American Oyaji]

Aww, come on, that's jsut nasty.

[Greji]

Aww, come on, that's jsut nasty.

That's what he said. She's a spitter!