A special page on the government's public relations site has drawn criticism on social media for explaining the importance of national security through a husband-and-wife manzai comedy routine. Some see it as an attempt to build understanding of higher defense spending.
A Cabinet Office public relations official said in an interview on November 5 that there is "absolutely no such intention." The aim is to show that familiar things such as energy and telecommunications are tied to security, the official said.
Seven everyday themes
The page went up on October 26 and Yoshimoto Kogyo, the Osaka-based entertainment giant, was involved in producing it. Two original characters, Kunio and Tamiyo, trade lines as a married couple about how security relates to daily life.
Tamiyo opens by saying that talk of "changes in the security environment" and "strengthening defense capabilities" leaves her confused and feeling it has little to do with her. Kunio answers that food and electricity reach them "from across the sea and from space."
Under a heading reading "Security is about protecting everyday life," the page takes up seven themes, including food, energy and logistics, internet access, diplomacy and AI, and explains how each connects to security.
Kyodo News reported on November 3 that the page was intended to foster understanding of higher defense spending. It also quoted a source in the prime minister's office saying that if the government avoids "gruesome words like killing," the response should be more favorable.
Contract capped at ¥150 million
The Cabinet Office official said the page is part of public relations for major policies and is meant to inform people about security, not to promote understanding of a bigger defense budget.
“As the site also shows, this is meant to convey that familiar things like energy and communications are connected to security. We are putting out information so that even people who are not very interested in security understand that it actually concerns them.”a Cabinet Office public relations official, told a reporter on November 5
Videos in the manzai format and a comprehension quiz reviewing the content are planned, the official said. There are no plans to mention defense spending figures.
The work was procured through a planning competition, with proposals capped at ¥150 million, the official said. Several companies submitted plans, and Yoshimoto Kogyo's was judged the most suitable on balance, given the theme and the intended audience. The final amount will be settled after the work is carried out.
Criticism including the phrase "state-policy manzai" has appeared on social media. The official repeated that there is no such intention and that the purpose is to explain the policy in plain terms.