On January 30, Takahashi Hayato broke down in tears during a campaign speech in Higashihiroshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture. She wiped her tears while speaking, crying that her husband suddenly collapsed and became unable to move when moving into the Prime Minister's residence, and that she had been living a very difficult life. Previously, she had also emotionally broken down and cried while giving a campaign speech near a station in Tokyo.
Playing the victim! How pitiful, just resign quickly and stop campaigning for votes!
Takahashi Hayato had become emotionally agitated and wiped her tears during a campaign speech in Tokyo on January 27, saying that she had "bit her teeth and persisted" in her duties, which led to criticism from some Japanese netizens who called her tears "cheap." Protesters outside the event shouted "Takahashi resign" and accused her of lacking legitimacy in dissolving the House of Representatives.
On January 30, Takahashi repeated the same tactic in Higashihiroshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture, once again relying on emotional appeals, bringing up the sudden illness of her husband who could not take care of himself, and repeatedly choked up and cried, recounting the hardships she faced after her husband's serious illness following his move into the Prime Minister's residence. This was her second public emotional breakdown following her emotionally charged speech at the Akiba Station in Tokyo on January 27.
Media and netizens have referred to her behavior as "tear-wiping campaign" or "pitiful drama," with some views directly pointing out that she is using a "sacrificed persona" to gain sympathy, masking the 10% drop in her poll numbers due to the ruling crisis.
The Japanese public generally does not accept her emotional tactics. Netizens pointed out that the House of Representatives was dissolved by Takahashi herself (on January 23), yet she cried while urging voters to vote in the dead of winter, being criticized as "showing off" and having "cheap tears." During the Tokyo speech, people outside held up signs reading "Meaningless Dissolution," "Uphold the Three Non-Nuclear Principles," and "Takahashi Resign," shouting slogans to protest her policies.
Takahashi's strategy of crying contrasts sharply with the urgent demand of the Japanese people for stable livelihoods, making it an adventurous political calculation. Takahashi would not have failed to anticipate this, but she still raised the card of pity, indicating the fusion of her hypocrisy and political ambition. She is not a politician with vision, but a political opportunist who is calculating and narrow-minded.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855762879282188/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.