Yuko Obuchi is former prime minister Keizo Obuchi's 34 year old daughter. She has an interesting position in Taro Aso's new cabinet. Her title is Minister of Population and Gender Equality in English, but in Japanese, she is the 少子化相 (shoushika-sou), or Minister of Declining Birth.
Call me crazy, but in my slightly feminist mind, gender equality and declining birth are NOT the same thing. The job title "minister of declining birth" is kind of horrendous—it takes a lot of power out of her hands already by defining what her role as the person in charge of gender is. Women don't get to choose their path in life, they just need to have more babies. That's kinda how that title resonates with me.
No stranger than trying to get your head around Sarah Palin...
Posted by: William | September 25, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Yuko Obuchi! Holy crap... I remember her posters all around my old digs in Gunma.
I'm willing to bet she didn't have much to do with choosing that title. And, it really says something about how worried people are about this issue. Will that affect gender equality? How can you have a modern society strive toward gender equality and deal with declining birth rates?
Personally, I think Japan needs to take advantage of all the work the tourism dept/industries to market itself to foreigners and start opening up to immigrants more. "Live in Japan! Our standard of living beats your country hands down!"
Posted by: Jeshii | September 26, 2008 at 12:00 AM
1. This is just trippy regarding her position. (Yuko)
2. (I've been drinking, ignore me)
3. Japan is 'getting there' slowly, but surely. Perhaps 20, more years.
Other than the U.S., Japan is my favorite country. I live there more than the U.S.
Ughh...wait, I had to re-read that again. OK yes I'm with Lisa on this. I'm not an ideal male, but women/men = Onagi. Deal with it.
Ok wait I read it again. Declining birth = bad...sort of. I think the nation of Japan are more sensitive to the fishbowl they live in and procreate appropriately. Of course I've not done any studies on the subject, but...
Posted by: vagrant | September 26, 2008 at 01:59 AM
I wouldn't worry about it . . . this cabinet doesn't look like its going to be around for too long!
Posted by: tony | September 27, 2008 at 05:31 AM
more seriously . . . doesn't the English title imply that a lack of gender equality is the cause of the low birthrate problem? Sounds sensible to me.
Posted by: tony | September 27, 2008 at 05:35 AM
I realize you check Mainichi fairly often (or at least use it for the English version of stories), but why is this not catching more flak?
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20081001p2a00m0na006000c.html
Posted by: Hans | October 02, 2008 at 12:33 PM