Aso's 'Take Responsibility' Remark to PM Ishiba Sparks Controversy and Public Outcry

On the afternoon of the 23rd, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held a meeting with Taro Aso, former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the President's Office at the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) headquarters. During this meeting, a comment by Mr. Aso to Prime Minister Ishiba has been reported, “There was someone who told me to take responsibility and resign, wasn't there? Doesn't this resemble that time?” This remark has sent ripples through Nagatacho, Japan's political center. The statement is widely interpreted as a scathing sarcasm aimed at the person believed to have previously called for Aso's resignation (with many on social media pointing to Ishiba himself), suggesting an implied question about Prime Minister Ishiba's own political future and accountability.

Mr. Aso's remark swiftly went viral on social media, with the keyword “take responsibility” trending. Users have barraged Prime Minister Ishiba with direct calls for his resignation, such as “Then, please take responsibility and resign immediately.” There were also many comments highlighting the LDP's internal conflicts, like “It's like a family shooting its own family from behind,” and expressions of empathy for the historical political context, such as “Yes, that happened, didn't it?”

Against the backdrop of the LDP-Komeito ruling coalition losing its majority in the recent House of Councillors election, the public is increasingly directing distrust towards politics and scrutinizing politicians' “responsibility.” A surge of strong dissatisfaction is evident, with criticisms leveled at the ruling party as a whole, such as “Since you're the one who created the LDP's current deplorable state, why don't you take responsibility and leave the LDP?” Furthermore, complaints like “No one has taken responsibility” and “They haven't taken responsibility for anything...” highlight a deep frustration with the current situation where politicians, notably concerning the slush fund scandal, appear to avoid accountability.

Some voices are even calling for Mr. Aso himself to take responsibility and retire, with comments like “Mr. Aso should just take responsibility and resign” and “You've been around throughout the 'lost 30 years,' haven't you?” This suggests a view that the entrenched presence of veteran politicians is hindering the party's rejuvenation. Mr. Aso's recent remark has once again highlighted the intensifying power struggle within the LDP and the accumulated public dissatisfaction concerning it.

The Context

This article discusses a significant political exchange in Japan involving key figures of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Shigeru Ishiba, who recently became Prime Minister, held a meeting with several influential party veterans: Taro Aso (currently Vice President of the LDP, former Prime Minister), Yoshihide Suga (former Prime Minister), and Fumio Kishida (Ishiba's immediate predecessor as Prime Minister). The core of the controversy lies in a sarcastic remark made by Taro Aso to Prime Minister Ishiba, implying that Ishiba himself once called for Aso's resignation in a similar situation, thus questioning Ishiba's own accountability now.

The term “Nagatacho” refers to the political district in Tokyo where Japan's Parliament and major party headquarters are located, serving as a metonym for the Japanese political establishment. The public's strong reaction, particularly on social media, to Aso's comment reflects deep-seated frustration with political accountability. This sentiment is amplified by the LDP's recent electoral setback in the House of Councillors election, where the ruling coalition lost its majority, and ongoing public anger over various scandals, including the “slush fund scandal” (裏金問題) involving undeclared political funds. The “lost 30 years” is a common phrase referring to Japan's prolonged period of economic stagnation since the early 1990s, often used by critics to question the long-term stewardship of veteran politicians like Aso.