Japan education minister apologizes over 'beautiful face' remark to opposition lawmaker
 

Education minister Toshiko Abe has apologized for telling a Japanese Communist Party member during a committee meeting that she had a "beautiful face," and retracted her remarks.

During a March 24 meeting of the House of Councillors Committee on Education, Culture and Science, legislator Yoshiko Kira questioned the fairness of the method used to calculate teachers' overtime, specifically regarding the exclusion of break times in 2022 estimates. In response, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Abe remarked, "I can clearly understand that committee member Kira has gotten angry with a truly beautiful face."

In a post-Cabinet meeting news conference March 25, Abe expressed regret over her remarks, saying, "I sincerely apologize for the inappropriate comment that caused discomfort to many, including lawmaker Kira. I will discipline myself strictly and engage sincerely in Diet deliberations." When asked about her intent, she replied, "There was not much intention."

On that day, Kira revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that she had protested over Abe's comment on the spot, saying in her post. "It is unacceptable to comment on someone's appearance in the Diet."

Source : https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250328/p2a/00m/0na/005000c

Comprehension

Who is Toshiko Abe, and what did she apologize for?
What topic was Yoshiko Kira discussing during the committee meeting?
What exact words did Abe use that caused controversy?
How did Abe respond to the criticism the next day?
What was Kira’s reaction to Abe’s comment?
On what platform did Kira express her protest?
What does Abe mean when she says she will "discipline herself strictly"?
Why did Abe say there was "not much intention" behind her words?
What does this incident suggest about the expectations for professional conduct in government meetings?
How do cultural norms in Japan influence reactions to comments about appearance in professional settings?

Discussion

Do you think Abe’s comment was inappropriate? Why or why not?
Should compliments about appearance be avoided in professional or political settings? Why or why not?
How do different cultures perceive comments on personal appearance in professional spaces?
Why might Kira have found Abe’s comment unacceptable?
Do you think public figures should always apologize for remarks that offend others? Why or why not?
How should government officials handle workplace conflicts or inappropriate comments?
What are some other examples of public figures facing backlash for their words?
How does social media play a role in holding politicians accountable for their statements?
What lessons can professionals learn from this incident?
In your opinion, does an apology always resolve issues related to inappropriate remarks? Why or why not?

Vocabulary

Apologize – To express regret for something said or done.
Retract – To take back a statement or opinion.
Fairness – The quality of treating people equally and justly.
Overtime – The extra hours worked beyond regular working hours.
Remarks – Comments or statements made in a discussion.
Inappropriate – Not suitable or proper in the circumstances.
Discipline – To train oneself to follow rules or improve behavior.
Deliberations – Formal discussions or debates, especially in government.
Intent – Purpose or meaning behind an action or statement.
Protest – A statement or action expressing strong disagreement.