For those of you who can understand Japanese and would like to gain some insight into “lozengate” (the weird goings on that led to the punishment of Yuka Ogata), I strongly recommend these videos. There are all of the same program (divided so as to meet Facebook’s data restrictions):

スッキリ[デ]のどアメなめて登壇…熊本市議が出席停止/本人を直撃!! http://www.ntv.co.jp/program/detail/21872486.html

The program was broadcast Wednesday morning. If you are feeling down about the kind of inflexibility shown by the city council members, this show should renew your faith in Japanese common sense. The commentators are much more bothered by the attitude of the majority of the council members than by Ms. Ogata’s choice of cough suppressant. Also, whereas many media reports tend to skim over the surface so that it’s hard to know what really happened, this one provides enough detail, including lots of video of what went on in the city council chambers, to give you a clear idea of how things really developed.

One city council member uses the tired cliché of the council chamber being a “sacred” space in justifying their action against Ms. Ogata. You can see in the video, however, that many men are heckling her in a manner that no one would mistake for sacred chanting. ;) Ms. Ogata comports herself throughout the affair with much more dignity than do the hecklers.

At the very end of the program, the main announcer bemoans the lack of flexibility demonstrated by the politicians in power. Blame for 8 wasted hours and an disproportionately heavy punishment is put at the feet of the politicians – not Ms. Ogata. I also like the fact that the video ends with a good deal of laughter at the ridiculousness of the city council’s actions. Sometimes laughter is the most appropriate response. (If only SNL in the United States would do a skit about this!!)

The sound is not very good. The video was recorded by merely pointing a smartphone at a TV. However, if you use earphones or speakers, you should be able to hear everything.

– Kirk

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