First came what the tabloids referred to as ¡±W-jinin,¡± the resignations of two female Cabinet members ¡ª Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yuko Obuchi and Justice Minister Midori Matsushima ¡ª on the same day.
The ¡°W¡± in this case conveys two nuances: the first being ¡°double,¡± and the second as the initial letter in the word ¡°women.¡±
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe¡¯s placid composure and quick response in nominating Yoichi Miyazawa as Obuchi¡¯s replacement won him a temporary respite from media critics. But within three days Kyodo News discovered that, buried in Miyazawa¡¯s political fund report for 2010, was an entry dated Sept. 6 for an outlay of ?18,230 to Mazan, a bar that features sadomasochistic sex shows in Hiroshima¡¯s Naka Ward.
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