Update: Minister resigns the next day (http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110705x1.html). He didn't even know where some stricken areas are located.
Only one day into this blog, I get reminded of the importance of central government control versus regional government control, which I neglected to add to the outline for this blog.
The reminder is a gaffe by the new Reconstruction Minister Ryu Matsumoto, who lost his temper when Miyagi Governor Murai kept him waiting for a meeting, then blasted the Governor for his lack of manners and failing to remember his military training, and finally threatened to destroy any media company that reported his outburst.
This incident is symptomatic of the Tokyo establishment's attitude toward both the regions and the news media.
Sources:
Takashi Mochizuki, The Wall Street Journal, http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/07/04/reconstruction-minister-blasts-tohoku-official-for-bad-manners, 2011-7-4 (accessed 2011-7-4)
Searchina, http://news.searchina.ne.jp/disp.cgi?y=2011&d=0704&f=national_0704_069.shtml, 2011-7-3 (accessed 2011-7-4)
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