Governor survives his gaffe
Source: Agencies |
April 11, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TOKYO'S governor won re-election yesterday, exit polls showed, despite a gaffe in which he suggested the March earthquake and tsunami were "divine punishment" for Japan.
Shintaro Ishihara, 78, had been expected to secure his fourth four-year-term in the gubernatorial race, and polls by public broadcaster NHK confirmed his victory after voting finished late last night.
Election official Yuji Miura said official results would be available today.
Just days after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami swept over Japan's northeast, Ishihara caused a stir with his comments.
"We need to wash away our egoism with this tsunami. Really, I believe this is divine punishment," he told reporters on March 14.
After a public outcry, he retracted the remarks and apologized.
Yesterday, though, he appeared unrepentant, calling on Japanese to live more humble lives and railing against wasted electricity in one of the most plugged-in countries in the world.
"Japanese beauty remains in Japanese people, but unless we suppress our egoism, Japan will not revive," Ishihara told a televised news conference as he accepted victory. "We'd better change our lifestyle. Our convenient, consumerist lifestyle cannot last."
Shintaro Ishihara, 78, had been expected to secure his fourth four-year-term in the gubernatorial race, and polls by public broadcaster NHK confirmed his victory after voting finished late last night.
Election official Yuji Miura said official results would be available today.
Just days after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami swept over Japan's northeast, Ishihara caused a stir with his comments.
"We need to wash away our egoism with this tsunami. Really, I believe this is divine punishment," he told reporters on March 14.
After a public outcry, he retracted the remarks and apologized.
Yesterday, though, he appeared unrepentant, calling on Japanese to live more humble lives and railing against wasted electricity in one of the most plugged-in countries in the world.
"Japanese beauty remains in Japanese people, but unless we suppress our egoism, Japan will not revive," Ishihara told a televised news conference as he accepted victory. "We'd better change our lifestyle. Our convenient, consumerist lifestyle cannot last."
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