The Prime Minister Likes A Good Night Out

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: Aso a regular at high-class restaurants and bars
If there's one person doing his best to increase consumer spending, it's Prime Minister Taro Aso. Aso, 68, spends many of his nights at exclusive restaurants and bars before returning home to his wife...And now, some members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party worry that Aso's night life could have a negative effect on the party's chances in the next Lower House election. Of his first 28 days in office to Tuesday, Aso returned home directly after work only four times, including on Sept. 24, when he became prime minister and his work extended past midnight. Excluding the three days when he was overseas or had dinner with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, Aso ate and drank at 32 establishments in Tokyo over 21 days. On 10 of those days, he headed to bars after his meal...The schedules say that most of Aso's dinner partners are "aides," such as his secretaries, lawmakers of his LDP faction and staff members of his office...But it is difficult to confirm whom Aso is dining or drinking with because he often goes to members-only bars of high-class hotels that have several exits...One of Aso's aides, who had been listed as his dinner partner, said, "I am just used as a dummy (when Aso meets someone)"...One of Aso's aides said: "The prime minister is always high-strung (at work). Unless he goes to a bar and smokes a cigar to cool down, he cannot sleep"...more...

[Mulboyne]

A female journalist working for the Hokkaido Shimbun suggested to Aso, at a Prime Minister's press conference, that his carousing was out-of-touch with the mood in the country. Aso rounded on her and complained that her newspaper made it sound like he was dining at expensive ryotei every night whereas he claimed he mostly meets people in hotel bars which are secure, convenient and cheap. He went on to say that if he went to a less private venue then the place would be swamped with reporters which would cause a problem for the establishment, other customers and the police who are responsible for his safety. For that reason, he said, hotel bars are best and he planned to continue using them. As far the money, he suggested that if the bills were a problem, he could always use his own funds. When the reporter started a follow up with "So, these high-priced...", Aso cut her off and snapped "Stop trying to trap me".

[D-San]

japanese politics seems lucrative...

[wuchan]

"It's my style!"

"Fortunately, I have money. I pay by myself," Aso, who is from an elite family, told reporters in a forceful voice. "It's my style. I won't change it."

[Iraira]

"It's my style!"

I'd have everlasting admiration for the man if he just said, "Look, bitches, that's how I roll!"

[TFG]

Mr. Asshole.."As far the money, he suggested that if the bills were a problem, he could always use his own funds".

Shouldn't the illustrious Mr. Asshole be using his OWN fucking FUNDS anyway, in these high priced elitist clubs and bars?:confused:

[Yokohammer]

This guy has made so many utterly stupid and frankly incriminating statements in the past that reflect a total disregard for the common man (and woman, of course) that I don't hold much hope for Japan's well being while he's in charge.

[Iraira]

I just sent an e-mail to the account attached to the "Hello Hello, this is Taro Aso, and I'm in Jail, send money, Weekly Briefing" that some gaijin is paid to write. I invited Taro to a party at my place, in late November. It's a gyoza party, and I will say that I make some fuckin't awesome "Gaijin Gyoza" (the quotes indicate that the trademark is under review, and I'l will sue your fucking ass if you try to open some restaurant under that name, you scum sucking SOBs!!)
(mixed meth and LSD tonight and my focus is shot)

Oh, yeah...pointed out a few quick points to TA
1) You'd be having dinner with "ordinary people" which would calm all the other "ordinary people" down for awhile.
2) Your host would be a gaijin, so that would make you seem cool to gaijin, who talk more trash better than any damn 2-channeler, plus, we can get laid, whereas....to live and die w/o a popped cherry.
3) Gyoza...that is such the common denominator among all nations and all peoples of the world. Every country has some variety, some twist on the gyoza. TA would look completely down for anything.
4) If you were to come, I'd really have to clean up my place.

It's a complete win-win situation, complete with antidote provided on request.

If he accepts, I guarantte that all my friends get banned for "security reasons", which means that TA and I will be reeking of garlic together. I'm not holding my breath on receiving a positive response.

[DrP]

"This is how we do it ...booomp boomp" -- Yeah I was rolling one night at the Trader Vics when in walked the Guv (Miyazaki) with his entourage of barely legals and 'aides'. I promptly ordered some of those rum drinks thats have the multiple straws inna big coconut - know what I mean? Anyway --- Japanese polits have it on the go - Soap Lands, Enjo, Deli-Aides, whatever. Compared to their US counterparts - damn -- the man to be in J-Land is in the paaarrrrteee! Hell, why do you think they always battle down when the "comfort women" shit hits the fan -- dont wanna lose those perks<y tits> yo!

[Behan]

From the Japan Times back in 2006. Sorry if it's already been posted.

Taro Aso has a history problem with Australia

By ROBYN LIM
When Foreign Minister Taro Aso visited Australia recently, did he know that the father of the Australian foreign minister, Alexander Downer, had been a Japanese prisoner of war in the notorious Changi jail in Singapore? And if Alexander Downer Sr. had been sent to a certain camp in Kyushu, as some 200 other Australian POWs were, he might have become a slave laborer in the Aso family coal mine.

TA would have been about five years old at the end of the war. I wonder if he remembers seeing any prisoners of war at his family's company?

[Mulboyne]

The press is still going after Aso, claiming he is out of touch. According to the Asahi, Aso said at a meeting that he was surprised that cup noodles had gone up so much in price and suggested they were selling for around 400 yen. He had to be told that, even though they had gone up, they were still generally only around 170 yen. Aso excused himself, saying that he hadn't bought any himself recently.

[omae mona]

The press is still going after Aso, claiming he is out of touch. According to the Asahi, Aso said at a meeting that he was surprised that cup noodles had gone up so much in price and suggested they were selling for around 400 yen. He had to be told that, even though they had gone up, they were still generally only around 170 yen. Aso excused himself, saying that he hadn't bought any himself recently.

I have to say I am a bit surprised. I never sensed much of a populist streak in Japan, but maybe it's coming. I thought Japanese assume their politicians are a bit elite. I never got the sense that they choose politicians who are "one of us" or feel betrayed when they find otherwise.

By contrast, we've seen the (false) story that George H W Bush was amazed by supermarket check-out scanners, and the (true) story that John Edwards got a $400 haircut get major media attention in the US. That coverage almost certainly helped contribute to those candidates' subsequent defeats.