Japan PM touts “cute” Japan at fashion show

Sporting a pair of jeans and sneakers, Japan’s
prime minister ditched his usually solemn demeanour for a fashion show to tout
a “cute, lively and cool” Japan.

Surrounded on stage by members of an all-girl pop group, Shigeru Ishiba
made a surprise appearance Saturday at the Tokyo Girls Collection — a popular
fashion festival.

“I think it would be wonderful if an event like this gains more traction,
to make Japan cute, lively and cool,” Ishiba said, posing alongside
“Myaku-Myaku” — the expo’s red-and-blue mascot.

The stunt came as polls showed his approval ratings recovering after he got
through his first face-off with US President Donald Trump last month with no
major disaster.

Domestically though, Ishiba’s minority government continues to face the
challenge of convincing parliament to pass a budget for the new fiscal year
starting in April.

Ishiba took office last year before leading his ruling coalition to a loss
of its majority — the first since 2009 — in October snap elections.(AFP)