An otaku(?) in Malaysia

Admittedly I’m not much of a current news person. At most I’ll watch to the local t.v 3 station for local stuff and Al-Jazeera for the international stuff. I was watching the international news a couple of days ago when the news about Japan airs. It says that Shinzo Abe will reshuffle his cabinet and Taro Aso, yes the same “Rozen Aso” is being elevated to secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Which means he becomes the second highest official in the ruling party. My reaction was ‘EEHHH????’

If you’re wondering who is Taro Aso, he is a prominent politician in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He’s claim to fame among otaku is he’s love of manga. The bloke has been reported reading 10-20 manga magazine per week. Sure he leads a normal life (he is a family man, married and all), but that doesn’t stop otaku saying that Taro Aso has otaku tendencies. He’s claim to fame? There was a widespread internet rumour that Taro Aso was observed reading a volume of Peach-Pit’s Rozen Maiden manga while inside the VIP Room of the Diamond Premiere Lounge of Haneda Tokyo International Airport in 2005. He did confess that he is a fan Rozen Maiden fan, hence his nickname “Rozen Aso” (ローゼン麻生)”. I still remember the 2006 election where some LDP politician gave a politician rally in Akihabara. While other talk politics, Taro Aso spend a considerable time talking about anime and other popular Japanese pop-culture, which endear him somewhat to the politic-jaded youth of Japan. So yeah, I feel somewhat incredulous and funny that Taro Aso is next in line for power in Japan. Sure I don’t agree with some of his controversial statement, but still…to have an otaku for your Prime Minister. Now that’s worth pondering.