"Stupid", "shockingly provincial" and "a sign of how little Japanese people really understand that part of the world" were among the reactions of Turkish residents in Kansai to Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose's comments about Turkey and the wider Muslim world. All, however, agreed that his gaffe would have no impact on their own lives or do much to damage the historically warm relations between Japan and Turkey.
Kamil Toplamaoglu, chairman of the Osaka Turkish Cultural Association and a long-term Japan resident, said the governor's remarks were stupid and don't reflect the views of most Japanese in Tokyo.
"There are politicians in every country who say stupid things. I don't think that Inose's remarks truly represent what Japanese people feel about Turkey," he said.