Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Drunken Idiot and a Love Song

When I first saw this I briefly defended the man to my family. Maybe his 'cold medication' didn't agree with him, I said. Maybe he accidently took too much.

Then the media went and dug up at least two other incidents where he was at work and too sloshed to talk or finish a speech.

I present to you Nakagawa. The (former) Japanese finance minister:




Now to bring us all back to our happy places:



17 comments:

Pat said...

Oh my! Do you suppose the drinking started before or after he took the finance ministry job? :)

Pat - Arkansas said...

Pat's questions is a good one. Stress sometimes brings out the worst weaknesses in people, while it makes other stronger.

Although I couldn't understand a word, I loved the little ant's song!

Kappa no He said...

Pat, ha ha, we're in the worst financial shape since the War. I wonder...

Arkansas Pat, I do imagine his stress levels are through the roof. I hope he gets help. Drinking doesn't have the stigma it does back home. Occasionally real problems tend to be ignored.

At first I didn't like that song, but the more I listen to it the more is soothes my soul...in a very candy sweet way.

Anonymous said...

two, three and four other incidences... what I don't get is why is PERSONNEL let me go on air.. and why no one tried to get him into detox or something.

Kappa no He said...

Exactly. You'd think someone would have noticed him stumbling around before the press conference. Good observation.

Mary Witzl said...

I saw thıs earlıer, on Japan Probe. I don't know which I mind most -- the fact that he had the affrontery to appear on air in this condition or the fact that he lied about it.

When I lived in Japan, I knew so many alcoholics. Most of them worked so hard and had so little free time, it was just a given that they would drink too much. It's still heart-breaking.

Kappa no He said...

Mary, yeah, I guess this is just another blow to PM Aso. His popularity is down to the single digits! And I totally agree about the drinking. I'm stunned by the sheer volume consumed and on a daily basis, too.

Anonymous said...

I can't remember the term, but there is one in Japanese for factory workers who drink every night after work. One of my friends shared a house with one of those guys. He drank a bottle of shochu every night and said that (non-permanent) workers do it because it might be their last day employed. When I went to the Honda plant in Youkaiichi, there were almost 20,000 employees, but nearly 10,000 were the temporary full-time guys, some of whom had been working there for over a decade.
On another note, CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I'm pretty sure that you're the only person I know who's published a non-textbook or coffee-table book (of his own furniture and wife's pictures!). I'll get the wife to buy a copy or two, and if you'd like to get on the book-signing circuit, I'll be there. Don't forget to get that important PBS interview. After that it's easy money.
imomomo

Woman in a Window said...

Ooo, poor drunk Japenese guy who reminds me slightly of a distant uncle. I almost feel sorry for him. Almost. (D'oh! Your second video isn't playing for me!)

Jim Melvin said...

Did you get my email?

Kappa no He said...

Imomo, thank you so much. Your e-mail made my pre-sale ranking go from well over 200,000,000 to down around 200,000. When you get back to Japan I'm getting you and the Mrs. drunk, drunk, drunk.

Woman in the Window, I'm sorry that video isn't working. It's very...cute! (exclamation point needed).

And Jim, yes, I did. But you know that.

Anonymous said...

Haha! I said the same thing at work a few days ago, and then checked on YouTube. If that's cold medicine, I gotta get me a prescription, 'cuz that's the good stuff!

J

Jim Melvin said...

At the very best time to buy your book, send me an email ... and consider it done.

Kappa no He said...

J, and they're all worried about the 'taima' going around. Ha! That movie was ... insane. Insane in a good way.

Thank you so much, Jim. I just friended you on Goodreads, btw. I remember the days when 'friend' was a noun and you had to write out things like 'by the way'. I feel so old.

Jim Melvin said...

I haven't been active in Goodreads recently. Mostly just facebook and absolute write.

Unknown said...

Your choice of the pikumin video was quite appropriate...the end of the pikumin day was to be eaten! all for love of course ; )

MDK said...

The first video is just hilarious!

The second makes me want to hug someone or something.

Excellent choice of order, Terri.