If you thought American politicians were bad . . .

. . . have a look at the latest from Japan:

Offensive statements of a racist, sexist or chauvinistic character have become so regular among Japanese politicians as to be almost routine. But even by these standards, Seiichi Ota’s remarks were breathtaking.

The former cabinet minister faced unprecedented criticism yesterday after a speech in which he appeared to cheer on rapists for their courage and manliness. “Gang rape shows that the people who do it are still virile,” Mr Ota said at a public debate on Thursday. “I think that might make them close to normal.”

As the article goes on to point out, Japan is, well, not quite like us, in some rather fundamental ways:

Much Japanese popular culture displays an indulgent attitude towards sexual assault bordering on the jaunty. The image of a helpless woman being born down on by a predatory man is a staple of manga, the comic books consumed by Japanese commuters — one popular manga used to feature the superhero Rapeman.

More coverage here at MSNBC, though it lacks these past zingers appended to the Times of London article:

‘Japan is becoming a considerably intelligent society, far more so than the US. A large number of blacks, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans live in the US. On average the level is still extremely low’
Yasuhiro Nakasone, former Prime Minister

‘The most harmful thing that civilisation has brought about is baba (old hags). It is sinful for a woman to continue to live after she loses her reproductive capacity’
Shintaro Ishihara, Governor of Tokyo

‘The voters could not have vanished faster if I’d been an Aids patient’
Yoshiro Mori, former Prime Minister, after a poorly attended rally

Posted by David on June 27, 2003 8:05 PM