Taiwanese Representative Unable to Make Floral Tribute at Japanese State Memorial Service…JP Prime Minister Expresses Deep Regret
Yomiuri Shimbun: 追悼式で台湾代表が献花できず…首相、深く反省
March 13, 2012
At a Diet budget committee meeting on the 12th, Prime Minister Noda apologized to Taiwan because its representative did not have the opportunity to present a floral bouquet at the state memorial service for Great Tōhoku Earthquake victims the day before. “There is truly no excuse. I wish to deeply reflect on our inconsideration.”
This was his reply to a question by Liberal Democratic Party Representative Hiroshige Sekō. The total amount of Taiwanese public and private donations to disaster relief totalled about 20 billion yen ($242 million), the most of any country in the world.
Representative Sekō also criticized the Prime Minister by saying that when the Emperor and Empress left their seats, “everyone in attendance, regardless of their country, should have stood.” Cabinet Secretary Fujimura said, “(The point of order) was packed in by the secretariat, and I heard about it right before. All I can do is apologize.”
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