[AmericanInTokyo]

And even at that, more people can identify Koizumi than could Hata, Murayama, Uno, Suzuki, Fukuda, Ohira, Mori, Hoshikawa, and the other line of face less leaders of the SECOND LARGEST ECONOMY OF THE WORLD.

When someone at a COSCO checkout line back in the US (upon hearing someone is a visiting 'expat' just in from Tokyo, actually asks if 'do they have TV over there in Japan?', or 'how long by traing from Tokyo to Hong Kong', somebody indeed needs geography and culture lessons about one of the most important nations on the face of the earth--let alone come out of a brain dead knowledge base about who Japanese prime ministers are.

Just wait till Shintaro Ishihara becomes PM some day. THEN most Americans will know who is the big chief at Nagatacho.

[sushiman]

Hell , I bet most Japanese couldn't name all the Prime Ministers Japan has had since I arrived here in 1985 ! We've had 4 Presidents , and Japan has had 12 PMS ! Hata was PM for only a couple of months !

[DTogo]

When someone at a COSCO checkout line back in the US (upon hearing someone is a visiting 'expat' just in from Tokyo, actually asks if 'do they have TV over there in Japan?', or 'how long by traing from Tokyo to Hong Kong', somebody indeed needs geography and culture lessons about one of the most important nations on the face of the earth--let alone come out of a brain dead knowledge base about who Japanese prime ministers are.

Ha! Ha! Ha! Reminds me of the time I was in LAX renting a car, and when I said I lived in Japan the lady said, "Oh, so you must speak Chinese..." Haaaa??

Ishihara as PM? Nah, too non-P.C., even for most Japanese.

[Steve Van Doorn]

does Shintaro Ishihara have a chance?