The verbal gaffes by transport minister Nariaki Nakayama, which led to his resignation after only five days in the post, show that he lacked qualifications both as a politician and Cabinet minister. Prime Minister Taro Aso admitted that he was responsible for Mr. Nakayama's appointment. His responsibility in this regard should be scrutinized in the Diet.
On Sept. 25, immediately after becoming transport minister, Mr. Nakayama described local residents' long-standing opposition to the expansion of Narita airport as grumbling just to get money. When asked about the government's policy to promote tourism, he said in part that Japan is rather inward-looking and a "monoethnic" nation.
Touching on the teachers recruitment scandal involving the Oita prefectural board of education, he said the Japan Teachers' Union (Nikkyoso), the nation's largest teachers' union, was the cause of the scandal. He added that in areas where Nikkyoso is strong, children's scholastic achievements are low.