Politics
Takaichi, China Coverage, and a Missed G7 Call
On October 16, three fresh flashpoints around PM Sanae Takaichi's China posture landed together. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama rebutted a Nikkei G20 report and pressed the bylined reporter to explain his basis. Veteran politician Ichiro Ozawa called Takaichi 'an obstacle to diplomacy.' And Takaichi told the Diet she missed an October 2 G7 online summit because a line provider could not be arranged in time. Netizens mixed distrust of the press, defense of the government, and derision over the no-show.