Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has come under fire after an official video of her visit to earthquake-hit Kumamoto Prefecture was accompanied by piano music….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has faced criticism after an official video of her visit to earthquake-hit Kumamoto Prefecture, accompanied by piano music, prompted accusations on social media that the government was using the disaster for political promotion.
The video, posted by the Prime Minister’s Office, summarises Takaichi’s visit on Monday to areas affected by the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck southwestern Japan on July 28. It shows the prime minister surveying the damage from a helicopter, meeting displaced residents and inspecting an evacuation centre.
The video’s soundtrack quickly became the focus of online criticism.
According to Kyodo News, one user on X described the footage as “government PR”, while another accused the Takaichi administration of “using a disaster for political gain”.
Speaking at a regular press conference on Wednesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara defended the video, saying it was intended to provide “a concise summary” of the prime minister’s visit.
Addressing criticism of the piano soundtrack, Kihara said it was “a way of presenting the prime minister’s inspection of the damage in a manner that is easy to understand.”
During her visit, Takaichi met residents affected by the earthquake and pledged continued government support.
“The government will do everything that it can do,” she told people staying in evacuation facilities, according to Kyodo News.
Wearing a disaster response uniform, the prime minister visited an evacuation shelter in the town of Hikawa before inspecting damaged sites from the air.
She flew over the Aeon shopping mall in Kashima, where an explosion triggered by the earthquake killed seven people. She also surveyed a paper plant in Yatsushiro, where nine people lost their lives.
Aerial footage filmed by public broadcaster NHK on July 28 showed extensive structural damage to the paper plant. Parts of the building’s exterior walls had collapsed, exposing its steel framework, while sections of the roof had caved in and a large hole was visible on the rooftop.
The controversy comes as Takaichi’s administration faces broader political challenges, with recent opinion polls indicating a steady decline in Cabinet approval ratings.
The earthquake has caused widespread destruction across Kumamoto Prefecture. The prefectural government said on Sunday that the death toll had risen to 38 as rescue, recovery and rebuilding efforts continue.
