Tokyo International News Agency

Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Kazuo Yana is facing intense public backlash on social media following reports that he took an aggressive and condescending tone toward a journalist, reportedly retorting, “What’s the problem? Go on, explain it properly.” Following the report, phrases such as “What’s the problem” quickly trended on X (formerly Twitter), igniting widespread doubts over his fitness for a cabinet post and his commitment to democratic accountability. The controversy stems from an investigative report published by media outlets including Daily Shincho. According to the report, a journalist approached Minister Yana to inquire about past allegations involving pork-barrel politics and coercive behavior—specifically claims that he had suggested slashing national budget allocations for municipalities that did not support him. In response, Yana allegedly confronted the reporter aggressively, firing back questions suc...

In the wake of controversy surrounding comments made by Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana regarding budget allocation, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addressed her responsibility for cabinet appointments, stating, "Naturally, the responsibility for appointing ministers rests with me." However, instead of dismissing Yana, she signaled her intention to keep him in his post, stating that she expects him to "thoroughly explain the situation, straighten his posture, and fulfill his duties," adding, "I have told him to simply work hard and pay back the public through results." Furthermore, she rejected calls from opposition parties to conduct an investigation across all government ministries and agencies. Following reports of her statement, the phrase "responsibility rests with me" immediately began trending on social media, igniting a widespread public backlash. Critics online voiced sharp disapproval, with comments such as, "If you acknowledge appo...