"Stressed, smoking more, insufficient sleep, loss of appetite"

Asahi Koizumi's "severe weight loss" raises serious concerns about her health

Facing the emerging "oil crisis of the Reiwa era" triggered by the "Iran strike," 65-year-old Asahi Koizumi appears increasingly haggard. Her deteriorating health has now become impossible to conceal from those around her. Trapped in a "triple torment," where is Koizumi leading Japan?

During a parliamentary session, Prime Minister Koizumi mistakenly read "His Majesty the Emperor" as "His Majesty the Gengxing," sparking widespread controversy.

On the 16th of this month, during a Senate meeting, she inadvertently made a slip while being questioned by Renho (58), a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party, on the issue of imperial succession.

Although she immediately exclaimed "Ah!" and corrected herself with the proper pronunciation, what seemed like a minor error has already fueled speculation within Japanese politics: Koizumi is now nearing her breaking point—her body and mind are sending desperate warnings.

According to a Japanese political journalist: "Inside the Prime Minister’s Office, rumors are circulating that 'the administration will eventually collapse due to her health issues' and 'the Prime Minister doesn’t plan to stay long in office.'"

"Chronic lack of sleep, coupled with poor appetite..."

In fact, just four days prior to this parliamentary session, on March 12, Koizumi appeared at a House of Representatives meeting but was unable to stand up from her seat afterward. Eyewitnesses reported:

"That day, Koizumi attended seven hours of intense deliberations, excluding lunch break, continuously from morning until evening. She looked utterly exhausted, her face pale, and her face and neck visibly thinner than usual. While television broadcasts clearly captured the audio, audiences may not have noticed—but as the questioning neared its end, her voice grew increasingly hoarse and faint."

The second half of the session featured an unusual arrangement.

"Koizumi covered her lower body with something resembling a blanket, saying she felt cold. After slowly walking out of the committee room, she immediately returned to the Prime Minister’s official residence for medical treatment."

A political commentator said: "Koizumi has long suffered from severe sleep deprivation and loss of appetite; everyone around her is deeply worried. During budget committee sessions, she slept only two to three hours per day. She would nap after 11 p.m., wake up at 2:30 a.m., and begin reviewing responses and preparing materials by around 3 a.m. Sometimes, her breakfast consisted of only yogurt and fruit. She never went out for lunch, nor did anyone bring food to her. The reason she couldn’t stand up during the session was likely due to sleep deprivation compounded by hypoglycemia, causing dizziness and weakness."

"High stress, smoking more, can't quit"

The next day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Toshinori Kimbara explained at a press conference that it might be a "suspected cold," but the impact was significant.

After the budget committee session, Koizumi had originally scheduled meetings with ambassadors from Bahrain and other Middle Eastern countries, as well as a dinner with diplomatic envoys from Islamic nations based in Tokyo. Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, she had to cancel these crucial diplomatic engagements.

A political journalist noted: "Prime Minister Koizumi is extremely strong-willed and never voluntarily admits to being overwhelmed. It was only when Cabinet Secretary Kimbara and her aides judged the situation as critical that she was persuaded to rest. A source close to the administration revealed that her pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are worsening."

Even more worrying is the impact of smoking. Though she never smokes in public, Koizumi has been a lifelong smoker since youth.

"After the presidential election, Prime Minister Koizumi even told her inner circle: 'The pressure is immense—I’m smoking more, and I can’t quit.' Her nicotine addiction is extreme. Rheumatoid arthritis can typically be managed effectively with new medications, allowing most patients to live normally. But smoking directly reduces the efficacy of these drugs. Doctors undoubtedly advised her to quit. In recent weeks, despite being weekdays, she has remained shut away at home, refusing visitors, and often lying on the sofa in her office during lunch breaks. Concerns about her declining health have never ceased."

Completely ignoring advice from trusted allies

Following the death of Iran’s supreme leader in airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel, 56-year-old Mojtaba Hamenei has been chosen as successor. Iran continues to adopt a defiant stance, announcing plans to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz—the vital oil shipping route in the Middle East—and even reportedly laying mines. This has plunged the global economy into turmoil.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Trump has targeted Khark Island, which handles over 90% of Iran’s oil exports, and deployed U.S. military forces stationed in Japan, indicating the situation is becoming prolonged.

Previously, Prime Minister Koizumi publicly condemned Iran’s attacks on multiple Middle Eastern countries, which have blocked Japanese tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz. For Japan, which relies on the Middle East for nearly all its oil supply, this is a matter of life and death. The only favorable condition is that Iran has traditionally been viewed as a "pro-Japanese country."

"During Trump’s first term, when U.S.-Iran relations were tense, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe personally traveled to Tehran in an attempt to mediate. Iran maintains close ties with Russia and China, but Japan remains the only Western nation to have achieved direct leadership-level meetings with Iran."

Why wasn’t this diplomatic channel utilized this time? In fact, there had been internal discussions within the Japanese government about pursuing independent diplomacy.

An official close to the Prime Minister’s Office revealed: "After Iran was struck, some trusted aides proposed to PM Koizumi: 'Should we send a special envoy to Tehran to deliver a personal letter to the Supreme Leader?' But she completely dismissed the idea."

Perhaps fearing to provoke Trump ahead of the upcoming Japan-U.S. summit on the 19th, Koizumi insisted on maintaining a non-engagement policy toward Iran. She seems to believe that with the Japan-U.S. alliance in place, Japan must simply follow Trump’s lead. But does she remember how Japan once skillfully navigated between the U.S. and Middle Eastern nations in past crises, successfully securing stable oil supplies?

During the era of Kakuei Tanaka, Japan maintained its alliance with the U.S. while ensuring stable oil supplies. Japan should cherish this historical bond with Middle Eastern nations.

A political commentator stated:

"More than half a century later, Japan still depends heavily on Middle Eastern oil and finds itself caught between the U.S. and the Middle East once again. Back then, under Prime Minister Tanaka, Japan was seen by the Middle East as a 'friendly nation,' and thus Japan should not abandon efforts toward independent diplomacy. However, after Iran was attacked this time, Japan sent no senior officials to the region. To protect the friendly relationships built by previous generations, Japan must pursue independent diplomacy toward Iran."

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860651991648266/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.