5 days ago
VOX POPULI: It's tough being a government that can't even admit its wrongs
Plaintiffs seeking a government apology regarding the Supreme Court's ruling on the illegality of welfare payment reductions rally in front of the health ministry building in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 7. (Takashi Kiyokawa)
Futen no Tora-san (Tora-san the Drifter), the iconic main character in the popular 'Otoko wa Tsuraiyo' (It's Tough Being a Man) film series, constantly quarrels with Tako Shacho (literally, President Tako), the owner of a local printing shop.
In most cases, Tora-san is to blame. He not only habitually addresses the shacho with zero deference, but also crosses the line when the altercation gets heated up.
And Tako Shacho is not someone who always takes the insult sitting down.
'How dare you presume to understand the struggles of small-time business owners,' he'd yell back, and the shouting match devolves into a scuffle.
The above is a typical scene in 'Dango-ya Toraya,' the Japanese 'dango' (dumpling) shop owned by Tora-san's family.
'Stop it, 'onii-chan' (big brother),' screams Sakura, Tora-san's younger sister. And her husband, Hiroshi, calls out to Tako Shacho, 'Please stop, shacho.'
At that point, Tora-san looks as if he realizes he may have gone a bit too far. But he never says, 'I was wrong.'
Tora-san is simply inept at apologizing to anyone. Even though all he has to do is just say he's sorry, he doesn't.
What does he do instead, then?
He picks up his travel bag and sets out on a journey, telling everyone, 'Don't stop me, please don't.'
Now, how about this case?
The Supreme Court has ruled that the government's welfare benefits cut was illegal, but the government is refusing to apologize.
The Asahi Shimbun recently quoted an irate citizen lashing out: 'The first thing the government should do is apologize. Isn't that plain common sense?'
The top court is not demanding that the government pay restitution. But if that is the government's justification for not apologizing, how cold and utterly lacking in humanity that is.
Why is the government refusing to face the misery of people who have been treated unfairly for a long time?
Whenever Tora-san takes off after an altercation, that's actually his backhanded way of showing his concern for his beloved sister whom he does not want to inconvenience.
He is unreliable and clumsy. But because his human warmth is quite obvious, everybody loves Torajiro Kuruma—his full name.
—The Asahi Shimbun, July 17
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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
