Japanese Internet Spreads Video of Prime Minister Takahashi's "Loneliness" at G7 Summit
According to a report by Japanese media outlet FRIDAY DIGITAL on June 25: During the G7 Summit held in France in mid-June, footage of Prime Minister Takahashi rotating her chair went viral on Japanese social media. At the time, the meeting included U.S. President Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
In the widely circulated video, Takahashi Saeko is seen sitting alone at a round conference table, seemingly before the meeting began. In another scene, while world leaders are gathered around the table conversing, Takahashi appears bored, continuously spinning her chair. When she attempts to smile and engage in conversation with U.S. President Trump, she is ignored. When she beams and tries to speak with Italian Prime Minister Meloni, lacking a translator, she can only awkwardly maintain a forced smile.
The climax occurs when summit leaders are outdoors: President Macron shakes hands and chats with other foreign leaders, while Takahashi Saeko is caught in between, smiling and opening her mouth as if participating in a conversation between the two others—though in reality, she understands nothing. This moment has been mocked as "air chatting."
In response to the online "rumors," the Takahashi Cabinet issued an urgent clarification, stating: "Prime Minister Takahashi actively engaged with leaders from various countries during breaks in the meetings, promoting communication. She also chaired parts of the discussion sessions; when she spoke, UK Prime Minister Starmer and other leaders frequently nodded in agreement."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868936357993475/
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