Firing Careless Minister

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe practically fired one of the members of his Cabinet with false statement on recognition of East Japan Great Earthquake. Minister for Reconstruction, Masahiro Imamura, made a speech on Tuesday that it had been lucky for Japan to have the devastation in Tohoku region, seriously harming the sentiment of residents or evacuees in Tohoku area. One big question now is why Abe appointed such a mean person to the position.

The statement was made in a table speech of a party in Tokyo. “Although it was lucky for us to have occurred in Tohoku area, the damage must have been bigger, if it had happened in the capital area,” said Imamura in the context of explaining impact of the great earthquake. Abe apologized in his following speech. “It was extremely inappropriate statement that harmed the people in Tohoku. I apologize it as Prime Minister in the introduction of my speech,” told Abe to the audience.

Imamura explained that he had meant that the impact might have been greater in capital region, but he apologized harming sentiment of the people in devastated area. Not only the opposite parties, but coalition partner Komeito accused Imamura of his careless statement and required resignation. Imamura sent Abe his willingness of stepping down as Minister for Reconstruction and Abe accepted it and immediately decided to replace Imamura to a lawmaker with Liberal Democratic Party, Masayoshi Yoshino. Yoshino is from Iwaki, Fukushima.

Imamura had made another gaffe earlier this month. He told that voluntary evacuees from radiation emitted from broken First Fukushima were responsible for themselves in choosing where to live. Harsh exchange with freelance journalist in the press conference was broadcast, causing many evacuees’ disappointment on reconstruction policy of Abe administration. It is likely that Abe decided to fire Imamura before he would further injure political credibility for the administration.

Abe reiterated his slogan that revitalization of Japan would not be achieved without reconstruction of the devastated area. If Abe was truly serious about the reconstruction, that policy had to be recognized by all the Ministers and no such a gaffe as Imamura did could not be made. Leaders of the opposite parties realize that Abe administration is slacking off and are asking responsibility of Abe to have appointed Imamura. However, all what they have to do is to reveal how Abe administration is not serious about reconstruction and unfit for handling this suffering nation.