Japan PM A Near No-Show During Crisis
The Wall Street Journal reports:
TOKYO—Japan has had five prime ministers in as many years, creating a merry-go-round of leadership. Now, for the first time, the country is being plunged into a catastrophe and the costs of weak leadership are becoming increasingly clear.
The Japanese prime minister's public appearances have become increasingly rare in the days since his visible tour through the ravaged region. A somber Mr. Kan has given a few brief press conferences in which he asks Japan to "remain calm", without any display of emotion and without an attempt to rally the country and lift their spirits.
"What he is saying is clear, but he is not telling me the information I really want to know," said Ken Hasegawa, 62, who runs his own advertising company in Tokyo, speaking about the concerns surrounding the fluctuating radiation levels. "His words also haven't been entirely reassuring. Don't tell us just to be calm. Tell us how the country will pull out of this."
In the 24 hours following the twin disasters Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan suited up in the now-familiar one-piece, light blue emergency suit and quickly headed to Japan's northeast. But Mr. Kan's initial rallying response as commander in chief has steadily diminished, raising new questions about his leadership.
As fears over a possible nuclear catastrophe reached new heights Tuesday, Mr. Kan's brief public appearance did little to tamp down on concerns.
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