Journalists love politicians who put a foot, or two, in their mouths. But these days, Japan offers an embarrassment of riches as Tokyo powerbrokers one-up each other in the gaffe department.
Exhibit A: Kazuya Maruyama, a lawmaker from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who made a statement that some took as referring to Barack Obama as a descendant of black slaves.
Or Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's communications minister, Sanae Takaichi, declaring, China-style, that the government might close broadcasters who don't toe its line.