Newly appointed Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito's top mission is to fight global warming by persuading the public to consume less energy.
But soon after his first news conference Friday night, Saito, 56, realized he first needs to gain the support of the person closest to him — his wife, Toshie, 55.
"My wife telephoned me and said I looked very shabby because I didn't wear a tie, although all the other ministers wore them," Saito told reporters Saturday.