It has been one year since SUGA Yoshihide became the 99th Prime Minister of Japan.
When he first took office, he was touted as “a man who started from scratch,” “a man who has seen the world,” and “a folksy” person, and some people said that he had excellent negotiation skills with other politicians and bureaucrats.
Some people even said that he was like TANAKA Kakuei, the prime minister who won the hearts of the people with his speeches.
However, Prime Minister Suga’s speeches involve nothing more than standing up and reading a script in a monotonous manner without gestures. When a reporter pointed this out, he responded by saying that it was important to disseminate accurate information.
At the Memorial Ceremony for the Atomic Bomb Victims and Peace Memorial Ceremony at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima City, held every year on August 6, he made the mistake of skipping over part of the manuscript. Today’s politicians seem to be convinced that politics is about bargaining and collusion behind closed doors, rather than making efforts to “face the people head-on, make their policies appealing, and gain consent.”
Since TANAKA Kakuei, who excelled in public speaking, had a strong influence until his later years, and it could be said that he made it customary for politicians to hold secret talks.
As we welcome the 100th Prime Minister of Japan, we need to think seriously about what kind of person is best suited to lead Japan, now that we are struggling to deal with Covid-19.
At least as it stands now, AI characters with text to speech systems can be ridiculed as being “better leaders” (readers).
菅義偉が
suga yoshihide ga
Suga Yoshihide
第99代
dai kyuujuu kyuu dai
ninty-nineth
内閣総理大臣に
naikaku’souri’daijinn ni
the Prime Minister of Japan
就任し、
shuuninn shi,
since became
一年に
ichi nenn ni
one year
なります。
nari masu.
it has been
就任当初は、
shuuninn tousho ha,
when he first took office
「叩き上げ」
“tatakiage”
a man who started from scratch
「苦労人」
“kurou’ninn”
a man who has seen the world (and)
「庶民派」の
“shominn’ha” no
a folksy
アピールされ、
api-ru sare,
he was touted and
政治家
seiji’ka
politicians
官僚
kannryou
bureaucrats
と渡り合い、
to watariai,
with
折衝力が高い
sesshou’ryoku ga takai”
he had excellent negotiation skills
評価する声も聞かれました。
hyouka suru koe mo kikare mashita.
some people said
スピーチ
supi-chi
his speeches
総理大臣といわれる
souri’daijinn to iwareru
the prime minister
田中角栄
tanaka kakuei
Tanaka Kakuei
にも通じる
nimo tsuujiru
he was like
声さえありました。
koe sae ari mashita.
people even said
菅総理の
suga souri no
Prime Minister Suga’s
スピーチは
supi-chi ha
speeches
原稿を
gennkou wo
a script
「棒立ち」
“bou’dachi”
involve nothing more than standing up
「棒読」みするだけのもので、
“bou’yomi” suru dake no mono de,
reading in a monotonous manner without gestures
記者から
kisha kara
a reporter
指摘される
shiteki sareru
pointed out
「正確な
“seikaku na
accurate
情報発信が
jouhou’hasshinn ga
to disseminate information
重要」
juuyou”
it was important
反論しました。
hannronn shi mashita.
he responded by saying
開催される
kaisai sareru
held
広島市
hiroshima shi
Hiroshima City
平和記念公園
heiwa kinenn kouenn
Peace Memorial Park
「原爆死没者慰霊式
“gennbaku shibotsu’sha irei’shiki
the MemorialCeremony for the Atomic Bomb Victims
平和記念式」
heiwa’kinenn’shiki”
Peace Memorial Ceremony
原稿
gennkou
the manuscript
読み飛ばす
yomi tobasu
skipping over
失態を
shittai wo
the mistake
犯してしまいました。
okashite shimai mashita.
he made
政治家は
seiji’ka ha
politicians
「国民と
“kokuminn to
the people
真正面から
ma’shoumenn kara
head-on
政策を
seisaku wo
their policies
訴え、
uttae,
make appealing and
努力
doryoku
making efforts
密室
misshitsu
closed doors
談合こそが
danngou koso ga
collusion
思い込んでいる
omoi konnde iru
be convinced
ようにも見えます。
you ni mo mie masu.
seem to
パブリックスピーキング
paburikku supi-kinngu
public speaking
長けていた
takete ita
who excelled
田中角栄は、
tanaka kakuei ha,
Tanaka Kakuei
晩年
bannnenn
his later years
影響力を
eikyou’ryoku wo
an influence on politics
政治家
seiji’ka
politicians
密談を
mitsudann wo
to hold secret talks
慣例化させた
kannrei’ka saseta
he made it customary
かもしれません。
kamo shire masenn.
it could
第100代
dai hyaku dai
hundred
内閣総理大臣を
naikaku’souri’daijinn wo
the Prime Minister of Japan
どのような
dono you na
what kind of
人物が
jinnbutsu ga
person
リーダーに
ri-da- ni
to lead Japan
ふさわしいのか、
fusawashii no ka,
is best suited
コロナ対策に
korona’taisaku ni
to deal with Covid-nineteen
苦しむ
kurushimu
that we are struggling
真剣に
shinnkenn ni
seriously
考えるときだと言えます。
kanngaeru toki da to ie masu.
we need to think about
少なくとも
sukunaku tomo
at least
今のままでは、
ima no mama deha,
as it stands now
音声合成システム
onnsei’gousei’shisutemu
text-to-speech systems
AIキャラクターの方が
AI kyarakuta- no hou ga
AI characters
(Reader)」
(ri-da-)”
readers
揶揄されても仕方がないでしょう。
yayu sarete mo shikata ga nai deshou.
can be ridiculed