Posted on 02/16/2009 8:39:45 PM PST by indcons
Japan's finance minister has said he will step down, following claims that he was drunk at a recent G7 meeting.
Shoichi 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 in the Italian capital.
The news conference followed a meeting of finance ministers focussing on the current world economic crisis.
Footage showed Mr Nakagawa slurring his speech and closing his eyes repeatedly as if he was dozing off.
At one point, he mistook a question aimed at the governor of the Bank of Japan as one intended for him.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
is he friends with Diane Sawyer?
FWIW - a longer video that showed the minister really drunk has been removed from You Tube at the request of Fuji TV.
Alcohol may be the answer.
At a grand reception ... the Labour Foreign Secretary [George Brown] tottered up to a figure resplendent in a fetching purple frock, and slurringly asked her for a dance. She turned him down with the response: First, you are drunk. Second, this is not a waltz, it is the Peruvian national anthem. And third, I am not a woman, I am the Cardinal Archbishop of Lima. Ben MacIntyre in the London Times.
” He said he had not drunk more than a sip of alcohol before “
For many Japanese men a sip is all it takes to give them a buzz . Low intolerance level .
A Japanese fetus, perhaps. Low tolerance is one thing, but the "just a sip" line this guy pitches is bogus.
Speaking of drunk, did everyone see that video of Hillary teetering out of her plane and wobbling down the steps?
Many though do not.I was once drunk under the table by my sons Japanese father law, which is a constant inter familial joke. I simply fell asleep in my chair.ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
The portrayal of weakness in a social venue where strength is required is the sin here, not the drunkeness.
BJ Clinton on the other hand would say," I did not get drunk with that woman!" even if he had been filmed as Nakagawa was.I actually admire Nakagawa for resigning.
At least honor is still alive in some parts of the world. Would it were so here in the USA among politicians.
Then all the RINOS would have to commit seppuku. An interesting thought.
Gambate Nakagawa Samma!
“Speaking of drunk, did everyone see that video of Hillary teetering out of her plane and wobbling down the steps?”
To be fair, the doorways in airplanes are quite narrow. Perhaps due to her thunder thighs she simply threw off her balance while squeezing throught the doorway?
Japanese have a HUGELY more forgiving approach to drunkeness that is common here; even cops.
This scandal has EVERYTHING to do with his drunkeness being seen to NON JAPANESE PEOPLE, and very little with his being drunk, per se.
As long as the observers are the right ones, I’d say you have rather more at risk in Japan if you are NOT drunk at a party, rather than drunk.
Thanks to you both - I appreciate the cultural insights. Newspaper and media stories rarely convey the nuances of such news stories.
Severe jet lag + cold meds + a drink of alcohol can do that.
” For many Japanese men a sip is all it takes to give them a buzz. “
> A Japanese fetus, perhaps. Low tolerance is one thing, but the “just a sip” line this guy pitches is bogus. >
OK , I forgot to add the WINK ...; )
Point was , he didn’t necessarily drink THAT much to get a buzz .
You are so mean.
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