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🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

Video of Japan PM’s quake-hit area visit set to music draws criticism

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faced online criticism for a music-backed video of her visit to earthquake-stricken Kumamoto Prefecture.
  • Social media users labeled the video "government PR" and accused the administration of "using a disaster for political gain."
  • A government spokesperson defended the video as a "concise summary" and a way to present the visit in an "easy to understand" manner.

Tokyo, Japan – Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has drawn criticism online following the release of a video documenting her visit to Kumamoto Prefecture, an area devastated by a deadly earthquake. The video, set to piano music, showcased her aerial inspection of disaster-hit zones, meetings with residents, and visits to evacuation centers.

a way of presenting the prime minister’s inspection of the damage in a manner that is easy to understand

— Minoru Kiharaexplaining the use of piano music in a video of the prime minister's visit to an earthquake-stricken area.

Critics on social media platforms, including X, decried the video posted by the Prime Minister’s Office’s official account as "government PR." Some users accused Takaichi's administration of exploiting the tragedy for political advantage.

Responding to the backlash at a press conference, top government spokesperson Minoru Kihara defended the video. He described it as a "concise summary" of the prime minister's visit and explained that the piano music was intended to present the inspection of damage in a way that is "easy to understand."

government PR

— Social Media Usercriticizing a video of the prime minister's visit to a disaster area.

The controversy emerges as Takaichi's administration, which took office in October 2025, appears to be experiencing a decline in public support, with recent media polls indicating a downward trend in her Cabinet's approval ratings.

using a disaster for political gain

— Social Media Useraccusing the prime minister's administration of exploiting a natural disaster for political purposes.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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