A surprise show of protest by a former bureaucrat against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a live news program Friday night is drawing flak from both the government and broadcaster TV Asahi.
Ex-Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry official Shigeaki Koga launched into a diatribe against Abe during what he said was his final appearance as a guest commentator on "Hodo Station."
Sitting next to newscaster Ichiro Furutachi, Koga at one point during the program whipped out a piece of paper on which the phrase "I am not ABE" was written, displaying it to millions of viewers.