Japan Press Weekly

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2009 August 26 - September 1 [POLITICS]

Young people angered by Aso’s gaffe

He was responding to a question from a male student: “A lot of people cannot afford to get married, and this is said to be a factor in the declining birthrate.”

Aso said, “People with little money should not get married. You should be careful not to get married carelessly.”

He also said, “Women will respect someone who has a job and can earn a living. Without means to earn a living, you will not be someone worthy of respect unless you have something exceptional.”

The prime minister’s remarks are infuriating young people.

A 22-year-old woman worker said, “He must know who is to blame for the poverty young people are experiencing and that the government has done nothing to deal with the increase in the number of working poor. Aso has no sense of responsibility as Japan’s prime minister.”

A 31-year-old married woman said, “The lack of money is not the only problem. Social services are so inadequate that young people find it very difficult to give birth to children and raise them without worries. Medical services and child-care facilities are too inadequate. Young people are forced to work for less. These problems must be solved if the decline in the birthrate is to be halted.”

A Japanese Communist Party campaign volunteer, 31, said, “National politics must respect Article 13 of the Constitution that provides that the people have a right to pursue happiness. Prime Minister Aso is in a position to champion this constitutional right. But he has not realized that his remarks are very distant from the public sentiments.” - Akahata, August 25 & 26, 2009