Asleep at the Wheel: Japanese FM Nods Off During G7 Talks
EmailABC News’ Matt Jaffe reports: Finance chiefs from around the world gathered this weekend in Rome to figure out how to solve the worsening global economic crisis, but simply staying awake proved too tough a task. It appears that Japanese Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa fell asleep at today’s meeting of the Group of Seven’s finance leaders. See for yourself (source: APTN / AP): Granted, the jet lag from a 15-hour flight isn’t easy to overcome, but when your nation’s economy is predicted to contract by 2.5% this year, per the IMF, and its biggest automakers like Toyota and Nissan are slashing jobs by the tens of thousands, that should be enough to keep you awake. If not, there’s always that time-honored Italian stimulus: espresso. At least Nakagawa managed to stay awake for his meeting with his American counterpart, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. – Matt Jaffe
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Posted by: JMart | February 14, 2009, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm
OMG, the Palin whiners (PUMA people) are back. They are the easiest paid Limbots to spot because they start all their blog posts with “I used to support President Barack Obama” yadda yadda. Give us a break. Find a mind of your own and write about it.
Posted by: Common Sense | February 14, 2009, 8:55 pm 8:55 pm
Funny PUMA was created because they wanted Hillary not Obama. So how could they have used to have supported Obama?
Posted by: Jwench | February 14, 2009, 10:45 pm 10:45 pm
We must work on this economic crises siriously.
This FM shouldn’t fall asleep in the important meeting.
Do Japanese people know this fact?
I can’t search this articles on Japanese websites.
Posted by: FO | February 14, 2009, 11:34 pm 11:34 pm
The masters of the universe bore themselves while trying to figure out out how to take the rest of our money.
Posted by: mad | February 14, 2009, 11:43 pm 11:43 pm
TO FO:
The scene was televised nationwide in Japan. Given the scene on TV, tons of postings at 2-channle, the largest internet bulletin board in Japan, have been made by “2-channelers” in the field of both right and left. wwwww
Posted by: The neller | February 15, 2009, 12:58 am 12:58 am
Look how fresh Geithner looks. Jake, you should get more sleep.
Posted by: Question | February 15, 2009, 1:01 am 1:01 am
What’s wrong? The FM is working hard and still doing well. Check his schedule before the flight.
Posted by: 5703 | February 15, 2009, 1:13 am 1:13 am
Have you asked why was PM looking so bad?
If you have not, it’s just your guess.
I think that you should say it to Opposittion patys of Japan.
they alwasy put a crimp in economic plank at diet.
Did you knnow it?
Posted by: Sue | February 15, 2009, 3:04 am 3:04 am
His behavior is just like before brain problem such as stroke.
Sooner or later, he will definitely go into coma.
Posted by: t. | February 15, 2009, 3:43 am 3:43 am
He is known for being an alcoholic.
Posted by: a japanese | February 15, 2009, 5:36 am 5:36 am
He is a very nice person. He must have been busy for unofficial meetings with alcohol last night.
Posted by: J-reader | February 15, 2009, 5:47 am 5:47 am
I would much rather see a picture of “Cub Woods” asleep.
Posted by: Yankee | February 15, 2009, 5:52 am 5:52 am
He was just going to let YEN weak.
Posted by: watanabe | February 15, 2009, 7:53 am 7:53 am
Nakagawa is a nice guy and a very important person for us, despite his heavy drinking habit.
We hate Economics Minister Kaoru Yosano, the depression-bringer.
We also hate Ichiro Ozawa, who is used to be a great stateman but now a nuisance in Japan’s politics, economy and society.
Posted by: cokoLED | February 15, 2009, 7:53 am 7:53 am
There is an old japanese proverb.
“KAHOU WA NETE MATE”
Means good fortune may arrive during you asleep.
So he did.
Posted by: watanabe | February 15, 2009, 8:05 am 8:05 am
He is a drunk and a heavy smoker. No wonder japan is going under. The PM Asao is an *** as well.
Posted by: yoman | February 15, 2009, 8:42 am 8:42 am
This foolishness is a dismissal at once that is Japanese shame.
Posted by: yasu | February 15, 2009, 8:53 am 8:53 am
I know this news
japanese politics dead.
Posted by: ort | February 15, 2009, 8:57 am 8:57 am
i come from japanese 2ch .
Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa is called “drunken man” in Japan
Posted by: 2ch vipper | February 15, 2009, 9:03 am 9:03 am
See for yourself (source: APTN / AP):
Obviously Matt Jaffe has special powers. I cannot see from those pictures if he is sleeping.
Why did you make up this rubbish? There is a “worsening global economic crisis” and this is the “news” that you choose to write about.
Posted by: so what | February 15, 2009, 9:10 am 9:10 am
We Japanese are generous to addiction to something.
Finance Minister Nakagawa is addicted to SAKE, while Premier Asou is addected to manga comic. Welfare Minister Masuzoe is addicted to sex and can do intercource for more than four hours without aid of medicine. Agriculture Minister Ishiba, ex-Defense Minister, is a millitary mania and a plastic models mania.
Posted by: cokoLED | February 15, 2009, 9:20 am 9:20 am
Think the cause of this problem is a debt of the country where.
Please give sake to the minister in Japan more.
Sake of nine trillion yen.
Posted by: japanese | February 15, 2009, 9:23 am 9:23 am
Shame of Japan from Japanese
Posted by: MT | February 15, 2009, 9:39 am 9:39 am
I’m Japanese.
His comment in interview was awkward.
I think he was drank.
Posted by: Japanese | February 15, 2009, 9:57 am 9:57 am
In Japan, the more you drink, the more people respect you.
He must be the next Premier.
Posted by: cokoLED | February 15, 2009, 9:59 am 9:59 am
actually, some tabloid newspaper in japan says he is alcoholic. I do not know if it is true. But it makes sense if it is true.
Posted by: JPN | February 15, 2009, 10:01 am 10:01 am
Don’t worry,folks.All member of the
Diet are sleeping in ordinary session.
Posted by: TOKYO BOY | February 15, 2009, 10:02 am 10:02 am
I think that he may have some serious health problem. He should be hospitalized for examination.
Posted by: Japanese motorcyclist | February 15, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am
OMG, all you can talk about is “he’s a drunk”. Do you know that for sure, or are you just repeating something, someone said??????????? And if you travel in the same circle he does, what are you doing on this blog?????????
Posted by: Lizzie | February 15, 2009, 11:49 am 11:49 am
Japan is sleeping
Posted by: japon | February 15, 2009, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
Nakagawa should have gone to AA meeting rather than G7.
Posted by: Shame! | February 15, 2009, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
He is a big shot.
He is not regarding Japanese economy as critical.
That is why.
Posted by: Ken | February 15, 2009, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
This guy is much nicer than bush, and much much smarter and funnier too.
Just drunk and showed up on TV, so what?
It’s pre cute ah?
Posted by: cheer | February 15, 2009, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
Whether he is illness or not, Japan should fire such useless Finance Minister, because its responsibility is extremely important.
Posted by: A Japanese | February 15, 2009, 2:41 pm 2:41 pm
In Japan ,he is well known as “NakagawaSake”,which means he always seem to be drunk
Posted by: tod | February 15, 2009, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
I though he was having a problem about stroke for the first time
At least he needs to explain what he had happened as it drew people’s attention
Posted by: yuki | February 15, 2009, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
Our Financial Minister is very sincere and a hard worker. Japan, as well as other countries,is facing economic cricis. Under the cercumstance his schedule is muerderous. In addition he has a health problem in the back which forces him to take strong pain killer. We are very concerned what’s happenning to him. Please ignore the comments which are insulting him.
Posted by: Ordinary Japanese | February 15, 2009, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm
While Nakagawa may have certainly been jetlagged, he was drunk and/or hungover to boot. Not surprising when the current Prime Minister Taro Aso is also a well-known drunk who has conducted interviews while loaded. Japan has an abundance of so-called “functional alcoholics”. It’s too bad they are now in charge and dragging down the country.
Posted by: Hirohito's Kintama | February 15, 2009, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
Let’s not fool ourselves. Most of us who see the advertisements for Japanese tabloid magazines (which tend to be more truthful than the mainstream newspapers when it comes to the “personal” side of politics) have known for a while that Nakagawa has a serious issue with the bottle. The question is, does our recent strengthening of punishment for drunk driving not apply to navigation of the economy? Not that the minister has much of a steering role…
Posted by: concerned voter | February 15, 2009, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm
He might have been considerably tired.
The distortion was caused in the assembly management of Japan like the United
States, and various evils have occurred.
t might be time when the hardship doesn’t discontinue as well as Mr. Obama
Posted by: TAE | February 15, 2009, 8:29 pm 8:29 pm
It seems that he caught a cold during the G7 talks. He took some medicine before the press conference and made him sleepy.
He wasn’t drunk.
Posted by: Kawasaki | February 15, 2009, 8:49 pm 8:49 pm
If he drank cold medicine instead of, or with, sake, he should have read the label. You aren`t supposed to drink the entire bottle at once. But maybe he has a hard time reading, like his boss the prime minister of comics.
Posted by: Kansaistew | February 15, 2009, 9:27 pm 9:27 pm
No wonder the world’s leaders followed Bush into a senseless war in Iraq, they’re all addicted to something.
Hopefully we will wake up now and fix this globle financial mess that Bush left us.
Posted by: dray | February 16, 2009, 12:18 am 12:18 am
Mr. Nakagawa has outstanding ability and efficiency as a statesman or a Finance Minister. Influenza and a medicine made him commit a blunder.
Posted by: 303 | February 16, 2009, 12:26 am 12:26 am
There are 4 Nakagawa’s in Japan’s Diet. On Japan’s websites, FM Shoichi Nakagawa is written “Nakagawa(sake)” and Hidenao Nakagawa is written “Nakagawa(on-na)”. Sake means alcohol or wine, on-na means women in Japanese. FM Nakagawa(sake) is very competent and a hard worker when he is sober. The problem is that he is seldom sober.
Posted by: tokyobanana | February 16, 2009, 1:58 am 1:58 am
What a disgrace. The sad part is Japanese politicians are, for the most part, like him.
Posted by: TY | February 16, 2009, 2:31 am 2:31 am
On the net I heard one weird rumor
about him: He has got to be in diapers,
just in case when he gets so drunk and
wets his pants.
Posted by: Shochu | February 16, 2009, 2:43 am 2:43 am
His hard drinking is already famous among Japanese peope, so we call him ‘Nakagawa sake’. I hope G7 leaders
enjoy his appearence.
Posted by: Marron | February 16, 2009, 2:57 am 2:57 am
most of Japanese news reporters say it’s the disgrace we matter exposing trhough the world. But I think it’s the matter of Japanese politician, we have. Most of them are the second generation who haven’t realized how important their jobs are. you’ll be surprised what they discuss in the diet.I think this is a good opportunity to open up the reality of Japanese politician. I don’t think they can deal with new Obama government.
Posted by: akiko | February 16, 2009, 3:21 am 3:21 am
This is funny.
Posted by: LOL | February 16, 2009, 3:27 am 3:27 am
This guy should take a break, some long hollidays, he cannot be in charge of the finance of the second economy in the world.
Posted by: Nom d'un chien | February 16, 2009, 4:37 am 4:37 am
Which country did cause this terrible world recession, do you think?
Posted by: Rod | February 16, 2009, 5:11 am 5:11 am
Why are you interesting abotu just FM in Japan? Is it so important us?
It’s only Japan’s news.
Anyway, I should know about our business at US.
How about Obama’s business agenda?
Posted by: Kei | February 16, 2009, 8:37 am 8:37 am
Sad to say, All Japanese news are like this blog.
Nobody have Interest in “G7 talk”.
Posted by: Hiroyuki | February 16, 2009, 9:34 am 9:34 am
It’s just too embarrassing to be Japanese after this G7.
The chance is, it’s just a matter of time as to when the current (Aso’s) administration collapse and political chaos in Japan keeps on going and going and going… OMG.
The approval rate of Aso administration is below 20 percent. I envy the rest of G7 nations, given all other finance ministers were at least awake at G7.
Posted by: afnfan | February 16, 2009, 9:47 am 9:47 am
Disgrace?
I don’t think so.
He has done really a good job at G7 anyway.
Posted by: tokyobanana | February 16, 2009, 11:23 am 11:23 am
If I dozed off by dead drunkenness in an international blitz called the G7 where Japanese shame exposed Nakagawa of the dead drunkenness to the whole country to a neck early a margin and attributed it to the cold medicine, did the pharmaceutical company sell the medicine which was such a danger?
Then accuse a pharmaceutical company Nakagawa, and do not have them; because as for the cold medicine as for the lie if drink the cold medicine that is because is it, and run it, arrest normal leave fine 500,000 yen Nakagawa of the license cancellation, and is early, and leave it, and doze off by dead drunkenness in an international blitz called the G7 for a world financial crisis; a fool
Posted by: 2cyannnera- | February 16, 2009, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
Leave it, and the shame Japanese citizen of Nakagawa Japan resign as angry Prime Minister Aso, and a lot of failure leave the Japanese company equal to or less than approval rating 10% this shame exposure to public ridicule Nakagawa, Prime Minister Aso by a financial crisis from now on
Posted by: 2cyannnera- | February 16, 2009, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
nakagawa was a trip of the drinker.
With the tax of the nation and.
I leave it, and it is airing.
I attribute the world financial crisis to U.S.A.
I want you to leave it.
Posted by: jyapan | February 16, 2009, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm
Jake, this story is just plain silly. For all we know the guy was ill as well as having jet lag. How is this important?
Posted by: Lydia | February 16, 2009, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
Yes, not only Mr.Nakagawa, Japan is sleeping. Japan will never wake up until someone else awake.
Some people expected US will do…
Posted by: Jun (Yokohama,JAPAN) | February 16, 2009, 11:57 pm 11:57 pm
You are right at all and could have touched on and evaluate Japan’s contribution to IMF.
Posted by: You are right! | February 17, 2009, 1:08 am 1:08 am
Finally He has resigned as a finance minister…
Posted by: maskman | February 17, 2009, 6:42 am 6:42 am
In fact, I’m supprised to see lots of Japanese gave their comments blaming Mr. Nakagawa. I know what he has done to improve Japanese economy under this gloval markets situation. Especialy he decided to get a great action with IMF by using 1/10 stocked USA bonds instead of helping KOREA. That’s why so many Japanese who like paticular Asian Countries, such as China, Korea (N/S), speak ill of him.
Posted by: From Japan | February 17, 2009, 10:33 am 10:33 am
The minister had a cold and took medicine. Why is this journalist blaming on him because of sick? Disgraceful.
Posted by: furry | February 17, 2009, 11:46 am 11:46 am
He is better than Bush.
Posted by: Japanes furyou | February 17, 2009, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
Hey Matt, have you ever done a 15-hour flight?
Posted by: maaaaat | February 18, 2009, 12:51 am 12:51 am
I have a question for Matt.
Did Nakagawa sleep at G7 meeting?
Did you ask someone in U.S. delegation about it?
South Pasadena
Tato
Posted by: tato takahama | February 18, 2009, 1:01 am 1:01 am