The only reason I can think of for Yanagisawa’s avoidance of the word “women” is a desire to specify women of the proper age and condition for giving birth, as opposed to all women. For purposes of discussing the birthrate, post-menopausal women don’t count - you could have a billion and it wouldn’t change the birthrate.

Thats what I think is so great about the seijigiri podcasts because its exactly the opposite. It takes news stories and headlines and chews them up and spits them out with two often different perspectives compiling a very detailed look at major issues.

In my opinion I wouldn’t want more detail than is already put into the TPR news stories because I think they should sound and feel like a newscast. Thats just my point of view though.

Like you say, it would be better to have more context and perspectives…and I hope we can provide as much as that as possible - within our Seijigiri podcasts.

What has BoingBoing to tell about that event besides copy/pasting words from a news agency and a “cool link” to emptiness? Answer: nothing. Here is a copy/pasting of BoingBoing entry.

“Japan’s health minister: Women are “birth-giving machines”

Japan’s 71-year-old health minister Hakuo Yanagisawa gave a speech in which he called Japanese women “birth-giving machines” and called on them to “do their best per head.”

The number of women aged between 15 and 50 is fixed. Because the number of birth-giving machines and devices is fixed, all we can ask for is for them to do their best per head, although it may not be so appropriate to call them machines. ”

Mr. Sheridan, this commenter being in Japan for more than 20 years is not confused but bored. He wants more than the daily dose of facts without thought, of events that read like puns to forward to the whole department. He wants contexts and analysis and opinions, hopefully not his own, that is, food for the thought, not fillers to guffaw about around the coffee machines. These are aplenty enough already all around.

Ken, I do not support sexist remarks. I do not support either reports on sexist remarks that read like weather reports - and I am not referring to TPR here - that is, devoid of context and perspectives. Sexist remarks are very much prone to happen here in Japan, just like cherry blossoms in Spring. I am no longer satisfied with things like “this remark is ugly”, or “this flower is pretty”. Period. Which also suggests that after +20 years here, I still am craving for the things lacking about Japan’s coverage that I assume you guys at TPR prompted you to start this project. The things lacking are depth, thoughts and perspectives.

And yes, Deorio, all this fussing of mine is indeed about more expectation from TPR in particular. Keep up the good job.

Which is why, with TPR as an all-volunteer operation, I would like to extend an invitation to Mr Dersot to lend a hand in any way he can. Ideas don’t mean much unless they’re put into action, right? So I’d like to see him jump on board and help make TPR the website he’d like to visit…the non-existent deity in the sky known we need all the help we can get. What do you say?

Mr Dersot asks, “So what?” of Minister Yanagisawa’s comments, and I think that’s a valid question. The fact is, these comments are projected to have consequences for the Abe administration: Bloomberg is now reporting Abe’s Slide in Polls May Accelerate on `Baby’ Remark. His appointed cabinet members are not helping Mr Abe with his public image, PR or marketing himself as a problem-solver to the public.

I’m not sure how expecting State Ministers to be “hip and hop” translates to expecting them not to make sexist comments. That’s a massive conflation of two unrelated sets of expectations. But, to answer the question:

1) No, I don’t expect them to be ‘hip and hop’

and,

2) I also don’t expect them to make blatant unhelpful, sexist comments. I also expect them to be aware that such comments will damage their credibility, as well as that of the administration’s - and that it doesn’t help with Japan’s image in the international arena.

Anyway, thanks guys. I think you give quite a bit more analysis than the media conglomerate (which just reprints AP wires) tends to give. Certainly a lot more food for thought and perspective on the issues.

I think it’s fairly significant that news sources outside of Japan have picked up such statements, even if it’s only three lines (and we considered that before mentioning them). It shows that the world is paying attention in a different way than before. Even ten years ago, that would not have happened.

You’re right, TPR News is not a forum for critical perspectives or analysis; it has never claimed to be. That’s why we run Seijigiri, to break things down and flesh them out a bit more. I wish we had the time to be a bit more contrarian and talk through the news on TPR News, but it is essentially a news broadcast, reporting what’s going on in Japan in English.

Lionel, I would love to be able to do online polls and come back with the results. I really wish we had those kinds of resources at our disposal. It’s something we’re working towards. I’m glad that you see that as a place we could move towards. We intend to, but growth will necessarily be organic (ie, slow) without financial backing.

And is this exceptional and exclusive to Japan by the way?

No, of course not. I don’t think we have ever claimed it was. But with this website’s focus being on Japan, firmly on Japan, we don’t really have the time or space to discuss what goes on in other countries. Again, I wish we did. But, as I said, we focus on Japan, and this happened in Japan, which makes it Japan news.

Thanks for your comment. It’s good to see some thought-provoking feedback!