POUR SOME SUGA ON ME

Yoshihide Suga begins his first press conference as prime minister

Dressed in his morning suit, Prime Minister Suga (wow that sounds weird) starts by saying the most important thing to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Japan must above all else avoid the explosive pandemic seen in the U.S. and Europe, he says.

The one thing Suga doesn’t lack for experience in is talking in front of the press. He has given press conferences twice a day almost every day for the past seven-plus years.

Suga talks about the economic impacts of the Abe administration. When the DPJ was in power, the yen was at 75 at one point, with the Nikkei around 8,000. Suga says he wants to further improve Japan’s economy.

Suga wants you get a My Number card. You should get a My Number card.

There we go, first reference to him being the son of a farmer from Akita.

New Suga press conference drinking rules:
- when he mentions being the son of a farmer, drink
- when he mentions Furusato Nozei, drink

Suga talks about the importance to the economy of foreign tourists, and of children.

Suga says he will realize bringing fertility treatments under the national insurance system.

Suga says he wants to solve the long-standing problem of Japanese abducted by North Korea.

This was an important topic to Abe, but Suga was also the minister with responsibility for the issue.

Next Suga press conference drinking game rule:
- when he criticizes expensive mobile phone bills, drink

Suga concludes his prepared remarks by saying he wants to create a Cabinet that will work for the people.

Into Q&A now.

First question is about the possibility of a snap election.

Suga gives what sounded like his most pointed denial so far - that the people want most is a quick end to the coronavirus pandemic and a restoration of the economy, and first the Cabinet must work towards that goal.

That was a long ol’ answer about the question on the snap election but the pointed reference to the vaccine makes me think that an immediate snap election is not on the cards. If it were, I feel he would have given some more positive noises?

The most immediate difference I notice between this and Abe’s pressers (apart from Suga’s very different speaking style) is that the person running the presser and calling on journalists to give questions is clearly very new to this.

Last question. I don’t think the foreign press got the chance to ask anything but we’re onto Kyoto Shimbun asking about the cherry blossom viewing party........

Aaaaaand that’s it I’m afraid. Hrmm. Reserving further comment...