Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru reportedly is sad that no one is praising him, according to a report in Weekly Women’s PRIME. In addition, Ishiba seems to be struggling to deal with the heavy workload of a prime minister.

The magazine was reporting on a talk given by Ishiba – who has only been prime minister for three months – at the Domestic and Foreign Affairs Research Council at the end of December.

“It’s a lot harder than being an ordinary minister,” Ishiba was quoted as saying about his current job.  “It’s hard. When I read the newspaper, no one praises me and when I look on the Internet, I feel sad. I barely have time to sleep.”

In a country where working long hours is glorified, it was no surprise that his comments didn’t go down well with the public.

Commentators on the Internet were brutal in their opinions, which included: “I want to hear in detail what he thought was worthy of praise.” “There is nothing to praise,” and “It is the people who are sad.”

Some even criticized his dining manners and attitude towards others. He was scolded for “munching on rice balls with his mouth wide open at what appeared to be a street speech venue” and for “the way he held his chopsticks while shredding grilled fish, and the way he held his rice bowl.”

At the APEC summit in November, he was seen sitting alone while the leaders of each country were exchanging greetings with each other. And when he did greet other leaders, he remained seated rather than standing up.

Ishiba became the new president of the Liberal Democratic Party in the presidential election held on September 27 and his victory surprised many, as he had been passed over many times in previous elections. His approval rating is below 40 percent, and some commentators have said that his administration is in a “terminal state.”

The general tone of the criticism was that Ishiba lacks refinement, manners and courtesy and the article concluded: “Is this really what we want from the person leading our country?”