One Reason Japan Is Cooler Than The U.S.

 

 

It's Prime Minister reads comic books, and he's proud of it.

 

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso (who is a total badass) lamented the fact that his busy schedule keeps him from doing one of his favorite hobbies...reading comic books.

 

"It's hard to read comic books as my time is now restricted," a smiling Aso told an audience of hundreds in his first street speech since taking office on September 24.

 

The conservative, often gruff lawmaker has eagerly sought to soften his image in recent years by casting himself as one of Japan's "otaku" -- nerds whose hobbies border on obsession.

 

Aso used the speech in Tokyo's Akihabara district to hail Japan's subculture, notably comic books, as a key export from the country.

 

"Japan's subculture of animation has been overwhelmingly accepted in the world," Aso said.

 

"Japan's culture is not only kabuki or no play," he said, referring to Japanese traditional drama. "Comic books, our subculture power, have been widely read in not only Asia but Europe, the United States, Latin America."

 

Do you honestly think that either John McCain or Barack Obama have ever sat down and read comic books on a regular basis?  I highly doubt it.  It's a shame though.  I'd totally be tempted to vote for a candidate that was openly geeky in their speechs like Mr. Aso is.  Why can't American politicians ever be cool (and by cool I mean totally nerdy)?

 

Al Gore was.  He even showed up in an episode of Futurama, voicing himself.  More politicians need to be like Al Gore.

 

(Via BoingBoing)