NationStates Jolt Archive

Japan finance minister steps down

Japan's Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa has said he will resign for health reasons, amid claims that he was drunk at a recent G7 meeting.

Mr Nakagawa said he would resign after the government's budget is passed by the lower house of parliament.

He earlier apologised for his behaviour at last weekend's news conference in Rome but blamed cold remedies for a slurred performance there.

He said he had not drunk more than a sip of alcohol before facing the media.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7893924.stm
Japan, eh? What a débâcle it is at the moment and such. Very unpopular government, economy dying on its knees like so many Chinese at Nanking. Am a bit tired, so add content that might make this topic viable in the medium term.

Cheers guys and gals,

Yootopia.

God this has been hilarious. Japan is in an uproar though. A LOT of people aren't happy that he did this in front of international media.

BTW, what do you mean Death or Nara?

God this has been hilarious. Japan is in an uproar though. A LOT of people aren't happy that he did this in front of international media.
I particularly admire the "it was just a sip" claim - a man after my own heart.
BTW, what do you mean Death or Nara?
"Goodbye" :tongue:

I particularly admire the "it was just a sip" claim - a man after my own heart.
I'm surprised he could say that with a straight face. He REALLY got reamed in front of the Diet yesterday though.

"Goodbye" :tongue:
Ah! Sayonara! :wink::tongue:

I'm surprised he could say that with a straight face.
He probably did a couple of shots to get the courage to say it.
He REALLY got reamed in front of the Diet yesterday though.
Excellent.
Ah! Sayonara! :wink::tongue:
That's not how the Commando Comics of my youth spelt it :tongue:

"Goodbye" :tongue:

It's Sayonara, not Sayinara.

But they are all sleeping at the G7. This guy was unlucky a camera was pointed at his head.

He probably did a couple of shots to get the courage to say it.

Excellent.
Oh the DPJ (The main opposition party) had a field day with it.

That's not how the Commando Comics of my youth spelt it :tongue:
Well now you know...

It's Sayonara, not Sayinara.
And it wasn't even that! :tongue:

God this has been hilarious. Japan is in an uproar though. A LOT of people aren't happy that he did this in front of international media.
Hey, the poor guy was just trying to be polite by adapting to the italian standards for politicians (and at least, he didn't threaten journalists by mimicking a Kalashnikov burst, like Berlusconi once did to a russian journalist!). When you are in Rome, do like the Romans.



BTW, what do you mean Death or Nara?
My money is on a misspelled "Sayonara".

Give the man a break! :)

Give the man a break! :)

Leg, arm, or rib? :p

BTW, News update. NHK just reported that he is out now. He's no longer going to wait for the budget to pass.

BTW, News update. NHK just reported that he is out now. He's no longer going to wait for the budget to pass.

Maybe he's going to disembowel himself to regain lost honour. Drunkard bowels, yeech :p

Siyanara? Isn't it sayonara? I'm sure it is. NERV, is siyanara a Japanese word too?

Yoot, me jokings wif j00s!:fluffle:

Well, you've got the shi, the ya and the nara, I suppose. ^^

Ah, Japanese politics. Former Prime Minister Koizumi occasionally visits a friend in the same apartment complex my family lives in, and the poor guy looks more and more unhappy every time I see him. :p

dying on its knees like so many Chinese at Nanking.

Naughty :tongue:

I don't recall reading about the economy being bayoneted in its pregnant stomach, fetus tossed into the air and impaled, but then I considered Japan's falling birth rate. :(

I don't recall reading about the economy being bayoneted in its pregnant stomach, fetus tossed into the air and impaled, but then I considered Japan's falling birth rate. :(Isn't that a good thing for Japan?

Leg, arm, or rib? :p
Spine! Spine! Spine!
Oh please, break the spine!

Anyway, I thought it was the Prime Ministers of Japan who were supposed to drop like flies? What does this guy think he is, breaking in line like that?

Well, you've got the shi, the ya and the nara, I suppose. ^^

Yes, I suppose you're right. ^3^

would this guy have had to resign regardless of his lack of sobriety at the G7? is he considered "responsible" for the bad japanese economy?

Siyanara? Isn't it sayonara? I'm sure it is. NERV, is siyanara a Japanese word too?

Yoot, me jokings wif j00s!:fluffle:
I kirr you :tongue:
Naughty :tongue:
Tragically my wit was missed / deliberately ignored.

I kirr you :tongue:

Tragically my wit was missed / deliberately ignored.

Unintentional racism/culturally insensitive remarks tend to fail, usually.

I kirr you :tongue:

:tongue: