did japan borrow harper's play-book?

Abe of Japan warns cabinet to keep mouths shut
The Associated Press: January 30, 2007

TOKYO: With his support plunging and elections looming, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan issued a stern warning to his cabinet Tuesday — watch your mouths.

The warning to Abe's full cabinet at their regular meeting follows two major embarrassments for his government. First, Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma angered Japan's most important ally, the United States, by saying he thought Washington's decision to go to war against Iraq was a mistake.

Health Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa then jumped in by calling women "birth-giving machines."

Abe was not amused by either man's opinion, but has yet to ask either to step down. "Abe told the ministers to be careful of what they say," the deputy chief cabinet spokesman, Hakubun Shimomura, said after the meeting Tuesday. Abe was particularly concerned by Yanagisawa's remark, which he called "inappropriate."

"I hope he will commit himself to his responsibilities," Abe said Monday.

Kyuma, one of the more liberal members of Abe's cabinet, started the ball rolling at a news conference when he said the U.S. invasion of Iraq "based on an assumption that weapons of mass destruction existed was a mistake." He added that although he has expressed his understanding of the U.S. war in Iraq, he has never supported it.

"My opinion remains the same," he said.

Kyuma made the comments hours after President George W. Bush's State of the Union address. Japan has long been Washington's staunchest ally in Asia, and sent several hundred troops to Iraq on a humanitarian mission to support the U.S.-led coalition there.

Under intense pressure, Kyuma later said his remarks were misinterpreted. He said he had meant to say that he thought at the time that the United States needed to be "more cautious."

Yanagisawa made his inflammatory remarks Saturday during a speech on the country's falling birthrate, drawing criticism from the opposition and the ruling bloc.

"The number of women between the ages of 15 and 50 is fixed. The number of birth-giving machines and devices is fixed, so all we can ask is that they do their best per head," Yanagisawa reportedly said.

The minister later apologized and retracted his remarks.

"You can't just say whatever you please in this cabinet," said a clearly annoyed Yasuhisa Shiozaki, the administration's top spokesman.

Abe is in no position to be offending his supporters.

His administration faces a crucial set of parliamentary elections in July, and the gaffes occurred as Abe's support ratings hit their lowest level ever.

The Mainichi, a national newspaper, said 40 percent of the 1,044 respondents to its Jan. 27-28 poll supported the cabinet, down 6 percentage points from the previous poll in December. The Nikkei business newspaper said support for Abe fell to 48 percent in its Jan. 26-28 survey of 906 voters, down 3 percentage points from its December poll.

Abe took office in September with support ratings in the 60 percent range.