Commentator Taizo Sugimura appeared on Tetsuko Kuroyanagi's long-running talk show "Tetsuko's Room" (TV Asahi) on November 19th. He talked about his time as a member of the House of Representatives 20 years ago.
He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2005 at the age of 26. "At the time, I had the image of politicians being like those in traditional Japanese restaurants, and I had never been there, so when I said I'd like to go, all the Caster on the evening news on all the TV stations that day were furious," he said. When one commentator said, "Japan is finished," he replied, "I once brought about a crisis for Japan."
At the time, he held a press conference to reflect on his actions. "It wasn't a discriminatory remark. It wasn't an illegal act. It was simply a childish remark, and I apologize to the entire nation. Now I think, isn't there anyone who has done worse things than me?"
While watching the video of the press conference at the time, he made his own comments, such as "That's stupid" and "It was long."
