Japan Struggling with the Nara dialect, Kinpuri is a feast for the eyes... Sanae Takaichi's surprising weak points
[12 photos] Sanae Takaichi, 32 years old, with tight formal bangs. Other, full-body photos, etc.
──While you have been elected nine times, successively held important positions in the government and ruling parties, and have had many encounters with famous big names, who is the “master” who has learned the art of swimming in the political world? Uka
"No... I have never had anyone teach me how to start. Women politicians I respect are, for example, House of Councilors Haruko Arimura (former minister of administrative reform) and Norimi Onoda (former (Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Justice) I guess..."
──Both of you are much younger than Takaichi-san.
"There are a lot of things to learn from. Mr. Arimura is rich in knowledge and has a very beautiful way of speaking. When I learned that he was older than me, I regretted saying, 'I'm so sorry!' Mr. Onoda speaks at an amazing speed and is easy to understand.
──When you were young, Takako Doi (the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives) and Mayumi Moriyama (the first female Chief Cabinet Secretary) were in Nagatacho, right?
"I was watching Mr. Doi and Mr. Moriyama because they were amazing, but I can't have that sharp feeling. Regardless of gender, the person I respect the most in my current job is Abe. A former prime minister, I think.
──What about Mr. Abe?
"The quickness of the brain. When I was criticized at the budget committee, I immediately responded with "papapapapa." I got a bad reputation from the opposition party, but I think that my reflexes are amazing, and I often think that I can turn my head in a short time. Also, even if it's a fairly long speech, you're going to give a powerful speech without a manuscript, right? I can't speak so confidently and quickly."
──Is that so?
"First of all, people in Nara speak relatively slowly. If you can speak in the Kansai dialect from beginning to end, they can speak at a fairly high speed, but if you force yourself to use standard Japanese, they will bite quite a bit. The intonation for a moment. I think about it, and it slows me down a lot.”
──I see, Mr. Takaichi's way of speaking in standard Japanese sounds milder than when he speaks in the Kansai dialect.
“For example, before the Diet Q&A session, I calculate the number of characters and type it into my computer so that it can be completed in 30 minutes. So, if I do it in the Kansai dialect, I'll fit right in. Not only will I get stuck, but I'll have a lot of time left.I'm not sure which one to choose today, and I've forced myself to do my best in standard Japanese, and I should have done it in the Kansai dialect. There are times when I regret that
──Huh~.
"There are some problems. When TV debates are held in the Kansai dialect, I receive a lot of protest calls and emails from the viewers. 'Even though I'm a person aiming to be the prime minister of a country, it's rude to the people.' Even when I ask questions in the Diet, the Kansai dialect is watched by people all over the country, and some people find it difficult to understand the Kansai dialect. Even though I had a straight head, I did my best while telling myself that it was standard Japanese, standard Japanese.However, when I watched the recording at home, there was a lot of Kansai dialect in it.
──I didn't know there was such a weakness...
"Actually, my eyesight is also weak, so this is a double problem. I can't even see the clock on the desk during the Diet Q&A."
──So you're short-sighted. Are you wearing contact lenses today?
"No, I spend my days without eyes. I'm afraid to put things in my eyes. Moreover, I have sensitive skin, and when I wear glasses, the base of my nose peels off. Glasses are not for driving. , I just have one for each house.”
──Do you wear it at home?
"No. When I turn on the TV and the King & Prince comes out, I put on my glasses because I have to watch it. I use glasses for that kind of time. Even if I'm blurry during dramas, I can still understand the story." , don't call
──In the case of politicians, faces are the lifeblood, so if you start wearing glasses halfway through, there is a risk that voters won't notice you.
"If my skin wasn't weak, I'd like to aim for a beautiful woman with glasses. The most interesting thing was when my husband (Taku Yamamoto, former member of the House of Representatives) passed in front of me in the plenary session and smiled at me. I laughed and nodded.At that time, I couldn't see it at all, so it seems that I completely ignored it.That's why the rumor of 'Masked Couple' spread and appeared in a weekly magazine.On the contrary, her outline resembled her husband. When someone was in the House of Councillors, I accidentally waved at him and said, "Why is Takaichi doing this to me???" I found out later."
(Continued from Part 3)
[Profile] Sanae Takaichi / Born in 1961. She graduated from the Faculty of Business Administration, Kobe University, and graduated from the Matsushita Institute of Government and Economics. After being elected for the first time in 1993, he served in the House of Representatives as chairman of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Committee, chairman of the House Operations Committee, and other positions. In the Cabinet, he held positions such as Minister of State for Special Missions (appointed three times) and Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications (appointed five times, setting a record for the longest tenure in history). He is currently chairman of the Policy Research Council of the Liberal Democratic Party (third term). Elected to Nara 2nd district, elected 9 times.
[Interviewer/Composition] Kenichi Tokoi / Born in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1979. After working for Asahi Shimbun Publishing, he became a freelancer. He has worked on numerous exclusive confessions and has a reputation for tenacious coverage of the political world. He is the author of many books, such as "Local Selection" (Kadokawa Shoten) and "Undefeated Man" (Bungeishunju). The latest book, Toy
* Weekly Post March 18-25, 2022 issue
