Politics Aso Taro's calling female colleague 'not exactly pretty'

Asō Tarō, Vice President of the LDP and Deputy PM, and known for his gaffes, again made headlines: for one, he's the only LDP heavyweight who refuses to disband his faction, and secondly, his peculiar way of complimenting his colleague, Foreign Minister Kamikawa, raised a few eyebrows. He praised Kamikawa Yoko as a "new star in the making" during a Jan. 28 speech he delivered in Fukuoka Prefecture. So far, so good.

Since being appointed minister for foreign affairs in September 2023, Kamikawa, a member of the now-dissolved Kishida faction, has been increasing her presence as a "candidate to become the country's first female prime minister." Aso's evaluation will likely boost Kamikawa toward her "post-Kishida" position.

Former Prime Minister Aso also commented on Kamikawa's appearance, saying "I wouldn't necessarily call her pretty." He then praised her for "confidently speaking English properly, and doing everything from making appointments (for diplomatic meetings) without relying on diplomats." Aso also remarked, "This old lady is impressive." He also touched on her work performance at the United Nations General Assembly immediately after being appointed as foreign minister, saying, "I thought it was quite something." Meanwhile, Aso mistakenly referred to Kamikawa as "Kamimura" twice in his speech. Aso, who supports Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, has previously indicated his preference for party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi as his "post-Kishida" choice for prime minister, but there have been reports of a rift between Kishida and Motegi. Aso's positive remarks about Kamikawa at this time are likely to create ripples within the LDP.

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I looked up his original quotes:


少なくともそんなに美しい方とは言わんけど。
I wouldn't call her exactly pretty.

Referring to FM Kamikawa's English speech at the UN General Assembly:

大したものだとつくづく思った。
I really thought it was a big deal.

And on her personality:

このおばさん、やるねえ。
That lady, she delivers.

Even the Guardian picked up on the irony of an 83-year-old calling a 70-year-old lady "obasan" and highlighted Aso's most infamous "gaffes":

He has insulted elderly people, blue-eyed diplomats, Alzheimer's patients and women who choose not to have children, and has expressed admiration for the Nazis, describing Adolf Hitler as "having the right motives". During the second world war, Aso's family's coal mining business used Allied PoW as slave labourers. Aso was president of the firm's successor, Aso Cement, for most of the 1970s but has refused to apologise for its past use of forced labour.

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Mrs Kamikawa, on the receiving side of Aso's compliments, kept her calm, taking the high road in responding to the sexist remarks former Prime Minister Taro Aso made about her appearance.

"I am aware that there are many different opinions, and I appreciate any and all feedback," she said at a news conference held at the ministry. "I myself have been working to fulfill my responsibilities as a politician based on my beliefs since I was first elected in 2000." She noted that she became foreign minister last September, the first woman appointed to that post in about 20 years. "I am committed to conducting diplomacy that is understood and supported by the people," Kamikawa said. "I will let this be my response to (Aso's remarks)."

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Maybe ji-ji got some coaching from Mr. Mori?