Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa appeared unfazed Tuesday following remarks by Liberal Democratic Party veteran Taro Aso, who called her an obasan (old lady) and said she¡¯s ¡°not that good looking.¡±
When asked about Aso¡¯s comments at a post-Cabinet news conference on Tuesday, Kamikawa said she was aware of ¡°a variety of opinions and voices out there.¡±
¡°I am grateful for all of them,¡± she said.
Kamikawa also emphasized her commitment to fulfilling her role as foreign minister, saying she will be devoting her energy to the future of Japan and to younger generations.
Aso, the vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, sparked controversy with the comments made during a speech on Sunday in the town of Ashiya, Fukuoka Prefecture.
While praising Kamikawa¡¯s diplomatic skills, Aso also commented on her age and appearance.
¡°This old lady has really got it together,¡± he said. ¡°Sure, she¡¯s not that good looking, but she speaks in a dignified manner, is fluent in English and is able to make many appointments with the people she needs to make all by herself, without the need for help from other diplomats.¡±
In the same speech, Aso also misstated Kamikawa¡¯s name twice, calling her ¡°Kamimura.¡± He further said that he thought Japan had never had a female foreign minister, but the post was previously held by Makiko Tanaka, who was appointed as part of former Prime Minister Junchiro Koizumi¡¯s Cabinet in 2001, and by Yoriko Kawaguchi, who served from 2002 to 2004.
Experts and opposition party members have criticized Aso¡¯s statements as misogynistic, saying they underscore broader societal debates on gender equality and highlight ongoing challenges in addressing biases in Japanese political discourse.
Ayaka Shiomura, a member of the House of Councilors, described the remarks as ¡°inappropriate¡± and ¡°problematic.¡± Posts circulating on social media sites have labeled the comments as ¡°sexual harassment,¡± with some calling for Aso to resign.
Kamikawa, who assumed office as foreign minister in September, launched a new task force at the ministry on Monday called Women, Peace and Security, or WPS, with the goal of promoting women¡¯s voices and involvement in conflict prevention and peace-building efforts.
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