Prime Minister Taro Aso visited Akihabara early evening October 26th(Sunday) for his first street oratory as the Prime Minister.
Known as a manga fan, Aso was rumored as a reader of “Rozen Maiden”on the internet, now is callled “The Honorable Rozen” or “Rozen Aso” from the otaku crowd.
At the time of the LDP's presidential election in 2006, he called out to the Akiba crowd as “My fellow otakus” and using otaku lingo again in 2007 , “I was very surprised when I saw many threads on 2channel when I came here last time, but more surprised when I found out that you know us very well-maybe better than ourselves”
A record crowd showed up for the street speech in front of Akihabara Station where there were tight security and many body guards kept a close watch everywhere. The spectator cheered “Rozen! “Rozen!” for “Rozen Aso” as he appeared on stage.
The speech was on his provisions on employment problems and the high yen rate. He especially emphasised his backup to the smaller companies as his economic strategy. He still had some time to show his otaku sidewhere he admitted that he has become too busy to read mangas, Akiba crowd cheered and chuckled when he said “Although I have read last week's issue of “Sunday” and “Magazine”, I couldn't get to “Jump” and “Morning.” Aso also praised Japan's subculture by saying “It's sweeping the globe” and explaining there are manyyoung people learning Japanese through manga.
Other quotes:
“(In the past general election), Taro Aso was a big favorite in Akihabara”
“The first soapbox speech has got to be from Akihabara”“We've got to brighten up Japan. You'll never pick up girls unless you have a bright attitude. So don't be having a “Japan's future is looking dim” look on your face. Have a positive attitude if you wanna pick up girls”
He also mentioned about his mail magazie and how he got a spot on a movie contributing website “Nico Nico Douga”. “There are no other （older) lawmakers that knows Nico Nico Douga”
The “Rozen” call were followed after Aso's speech and the Prime Minister headed to Akihabara UDX to be the guest for “Akihabara Entertainment Festival 2008” shaking hands to the audience.
【Related article】(Japanese)
□http://akiba.kakaku.com/etc/0809/16/193000.php
□http://akiba.kakaku.com/gourmet/0709/17/183000.php
□http://akiba.kakaku.com/event/0709/17/120000.php
□http://akiba.kakaku.com/etc/0707/12/214523.php
【Related site】
□http://bbs.kakaku.com/bbs/-/CategoryCD=4510/
□http://bbs.kakaku.com/bbs/-/CategoryCD=4540/
□http://www.aso-taro.jp/
□http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%BA%BB%E7%94%9F%E5%A4%AA%E9%83%8E
