The government is promoting security policy through a husband-and-wife manzai comedy act, and at the Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday an opposition lawmaker asked whether that was appropriate. "Security involves people's lives. I have serious doubts about whether it should be turned into comedy," said Constitutional Democratic Party lawmaker Maiko Tajima.
The act features a man named Kunio and a woman named Tamiyo, who introduce themselves as "Kunio and Tamiyo, the manzai duo bringing you government publicity." Their routine explains how security relates to everyday life. The first installment went up on a government publicity feature page at the end of last month, and more content is planned.
The government has set a budget ceiling of ¥150 million for younger audiences and ¥150 million for middle-aged and older audiences, for a combined ceiling of ¥300 million. The contract went to Yoshimoto Kogyo through a competitive bidding process, Tajima said, and the routine is delivered in Osaka dialect.
Cabinet Office defends the approach
Asked about the publicity by Tajima, a Cabinet Office official said the purpose is "to help the public understand important policies and government efforts in an accessible way." The official said the material is being produced as debate proceeds toward revision of the three security documents, to convey that Japan's security environment is closely tied to daily life.
The official added that the government is "devising various ways" to present security as a familiar, everyday issue and to draw broad public interest in it.
A lawmaker sees a patriarchal frame
Tajima described what she took from the routine: Kunio, the man, explains the security situation to Tamiyo, the woman, who represents the public. "I felt something patriarchal in it," she said. Told that the content targets women in their 40s and older, she pressed the government on whether it really believed the approach would work.
The official repeated that the government is devising various ways to make security feel close to daily life. Tajima was not persuaded. "I am also a woman in my 40s or older, and I think this is off the mark," she said.
The publicity is being prepared as the government looks to revise the three security documents by the end of the year.