My Wife Doesn’t Buy the Slogans
“Why do politicians always say they care about us?” my wife asked. “If they really did, why is everything getting worse?”
It’s not just about what’s said—it’s about the betrayal behind the words. When Minister Eto says he never buys rice, it’s not a gaffe—it’s a worldview. And when PM Ishiba says “We apologize, but he stays,” it’s not diplomacy—it’s indifference.
The real issue isn’t verbal missteps. It’s the wide gulf between words and actions, slogans and policies, faces and motives.
The Mask of Empathy, the Heart of Indifference
Politicians love saying they “stand with the people.” But policies tell another story: pension hikes, tax stagnation, shrinking benefits. They promise help before elections, and deliver bills after.
It’s political gaslighting: “We’re doing this for you,” as they tighten the leash. This is what Japan’s bureaucrats call “menzu fukuhai”—obedient on the outside, defiant within.
Former bureaucrat Kihei Maekawa even called it his life motto. That’s not satire—that’s a warning. When both politicians and bureaucrats master the art of double talk, the public becomes prey.
The Gaffe Isn’t the Problem—The Truth Behind It Is
The media hounds after “controversial remarks,” but here’s the real story: Why do such remarks reflect actual policy? Eto’s rice comment wasn’t an accident—it was insight.
And Ishiba’s apology, swiftly followed by endorsement, revealed a deeper sickness: leaders who pretend to listen but never change course.
Japan’s crisis isn’t about scandal. It’s about policy hypocrisy. Public empathy in speech, private agenda in action.
What journalists should ask is not “Was it offensive?” but “Is it consistent?” That’s where truth hides.
When Words Are Steamed, but the Heart Stays Cold
“Listening to the people” is an empty chant. Real listening means action. But we get slogans instead of substance, apologies instead of accountability.
My wife, measuring out rice for dinner, sighed, “We treat rice with respect. Politicians treat their words like burnt toast.”
Maybe it’s time we rewrite the motto. Instead of "menzu fukuhai"—two-faced compliance—we choose "menko chokugen": a face that speaks truth.
Because in the end, even cold rice can be eaten. But cold politics? That leaves us all hungry.