Japan PM Kishida's vaunted 'ability to listen' returns to haunt him as approval sags
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japan-pm-kishidas-vaunted-ability-to-listen-returns-to-haunt-him-as-approval-sags
Adding fuel to the fire, Mr Kishida appointed his eldest son Shotaro, 31,
as his executive secretary in an apparent bid to groom him as his successor.
This has sparked accusations of nepotism, even though hereditary politics has
long been a tradition in Japan, with one in four Diet members legacy politicians.
Dr Sota Kato, a research director at The Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research think-tank,
said: "Given the extraordinary rate of hereditary succession in Japanese politics,
it is quite normal to have a son as a public secretary.
"But the timing was too bad. Now, Kishida will be criticised for anything.
I think he misread the mood in the media and public opinion in giving his eldest son
a conspicuous role at this point in time."
