The foreign minister’s appearance and age were insulted by a former Japanese prime minister and vice-president of the ruling Liberal Democratic party, sparking accusations of sexism.
During a recent speech, Taro Aso, who is known for making inappropriate comments, stated that Yoko Kamikawa is not particularly attractive. However, he did acknowledge her strong political skills and ability to communicate with dignity and proper English, as well as being able to arrange meetings without assistance from diplomats.
Additionally, Aso, who is 83 years old, called Kamikawa, 70, “obasan” which is a term commonly used for middle-aged women but is considered offensive by some.
Aso made the mistake of calling her Kamimura, which is not her correct surname. He also mistakenly claimed that she was the first female foreign minister of Japan. However, she is actually the third. The first two were Makiko Tanaka and Yoriko Kawaguchi, who were chosen during Junichiro Koizumi’s term in the early 2000s.
Kamikawa, one of five women chosen for prime minister Fumio Kishida’s cabinet in September last year, disregarded Aso’s remarks.
“I understand that there are numerous perspectives, and I value all input,” she informed journalists, stating that the best course of action in response to Aso would be to continue her duties as Japan’s top diplomat.
The opposition politicians expressed disapproval towards Aso, who has held high-ranking roles in previous LDP governments. Aso served as prime minister for less than a year before the party was ousted from power in 2009, marking the first time in over 50 years.
According to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, Akira Koike, the secretary general of the Japanese Communist party, stated that the remarks made by Aso were offensive and unacceptable, even considering his previous controversial statements. Koike also called it the most severe one yet. Additionally, some individuals on social media are calling for Aso’s resignation.
According to Kaku Sechiyama, a gender studies professor at the University of Tokyo, in an interview with Asahi, while acknowledging Aso’s admiration for Kamikawa, it is concerning that he would only mention her appearance if she were a male foreign minister. This perpetuates the idea that only women are judged on their attractiveness.
Aso, who has been rumored to have a fortune of billions of dollars, is famous for his style in fashion but infamous for making uninformed judgments against entire communities. In May 2018, while serving as finance minister, he controversially stated that sexual harassment is not a real crime, following allegations against a high-ranking ministry official for harassing a female TV reporter. Aso also suggested that the official may have been framed by the victim.
The individual has made offensive remarks towards older individuals, diplomats with blue eyes, those with Alzheimer’s disease, and women who decide not to become mothers. Additionally, they have shown support for the Nazi party and even praised Adolf Hitler, claiming he had good intentions.
During World War II, the Aso family’s coal mining company employed Allied prisoners of war as forced laborers. Aso served as president of the company’s successor, Aso Cement, during the majority of the 1970s, but has not expressed remorse for their use of forced labor during the war.
According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Japan’s performance in global comparisons of female political representation is poor as it ranks 165th out of 190 countries. In the lower house of parliament, women make up only 10.3% of MPs.
Other high-ranking Japanese officials have also been criticized for making sexist comments. When Kishida selected Kamikawa and other women for his cabinet in 2020, he expressed his desire for them to showcase the distinctive qualities of women, such as sensitivity and empathy.
Source: theguardian.com
