Slow Motion and Prayer Scenes Spark Outrage: "Is This a Sanae Promo Video?" Criticism Mounts in Japan

Prime Minister Takaichi Visits Kumamoto Earthquake Site
Video Release Sparks Criticism: "Is This Just a Personal Promotion Video?"

A video of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visiting the Kumamoto earthquake disaster site is facing heavy criticism locally.

Video of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visiting the Kumamoto earthquake damage site. Screenshot from the Prime Minister's Official Residence X (formerly Twitter).

According to Japanese media reports on August 5, the Prime Minister's Official Residence uploaded a 1-minute, 53-second video featuring Prime Minister Takaichi's visit to the Kumamoto earthquake-affected areas to X (formerly Twitter) on August 3. The video shows her shaking hands with victims in slow-motion, set to gentle piano music in the background, and also includes footage of her folding her hands in prayer as she looks down over the disaster area from a helicopter.

Video of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visiting the Kumamoto earthquake damage site. Screenshot from the Prime Minister’s Official Residence on X (formerly Twitter).

Online users are criticizing the video, saying, "She only went there to shoot a promotional video," and, "This is not a government for the people, but for herself." Playwright Keralino Sandorovich commented, "It's completely a self-promotional video starring herself," while also mocking the choice of background music, asking, "What's with this music?" Actor and musician Takechi Gongochi also wrote, "This video is absolutely absurd." Additional criticisms include, "Instead of looking down from a helicopter, pray at the site," and, "Go to the gymnasium with the evacuees instead of the air-conditioned conference room."

The main reason for such harsh criticism lies in the slow recovery efforts. Although the government designated the recent earthquake as a "specified emergency disaster" on August 3, thousands of victims are still enduring the extreme heat in shelters without air conditioning. On August 2, a woman in her 70s, who was evacuating in her car, died from heat-related illness.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara explained at a regular briefing on this day that, "It is necessary to inform the public about the inspection in an easy-to-understand manner," and added, "This style of video has been done before."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.