Isn't very sad how the Emperor of Japan has only just made an address to his people now

[Bobbisox]

In a rare appearance, Akihito went on live TV to make his first public comments on the disaster, and said he was praying for the people.

Is this man and his family so removed from his Nation? most Heads of State would be seen to be there as a pivotal leader to comfort their subjects/people, with an immediate address to them, not wait almost a week.

[bednobs]

i like theri prime minister person.

[ummmm]

http://www.theanswerb...s/Question998363.html

[Bobbisox]

yes bednobs he has been very 'hands on'
perhaps he's the spokesperson for the Royal Family?

[woofgang]

its how things are...the Japanese expectation of what their Emperor will be like.

[craft1948]

I don't think you can equate their Emperor to our monarch.............they do things differently.

[Bobbisox]

yes woof, I suppose

[LoftyLottie]

Isn't their Emperor more of a god like figure still?

[marval]

I agree, he should have sent a message to his people much sooner. It might not help, but at least they would know that he cares. Doing something now will mean nothing to them.

[craft1948]

He was indeed considered a god by his people until after the war I think Lottie......

[Bobbisox]

maybe it is the sheer magnitude of what has happened, I found this very sad, the absence of their figurehead

[LoftyLottie]

Difficult and not really fair to comment on the way other cultures act as such times. Their president has been there for them.

[Bobbisox]

possibly not LL
we tend to forget that the cultures are completely different from ours and I respect this

[VHG]

When the Japanese emperor spoke at the end of the second world war to say they were going to surrender it was the first time most people in Japan had ever heard him talk.

At the time many went down on their knees while he was talking.

The emperor is still a god like figure to them.

[rowanwitch]

It probably won't be seen as reassuring while not treated as gods the royal family are seen as 'other' and this is a major departure for them.

[Bobbisox]

Koodi, that's a great analogy, thanks

[Zeuhl]

For the emperor to make a TV address at all is extremely unusual, if not unique. That is what will strike the japanese more than any tardiness.

I'm phoning a japanese friend in Tokyo later this afternoon - I'll ask her what she thought of it.
.