Japan’s first lady attends festival on Korea, seeks friendly ties

Shinzo Akie, the wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, introduced on her Facebook page her attendance at the “Korea-Japan Festival” held at Hibiya Park in central Tokyo on Saturday. The Japanese first lady also uploaded photos of her making bibimbap (rice and vegetables with seasoned red pepper paste) with participants from Korea, including Lee Byung-ki, Korean Ambassador to Japan, and Kim Tae-hwan, acting chairman of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary Association.

On her post, a number of Japanese web users uploaded critical posts, reading, “Her acts cause a sense of incompatibility,” “Exchange with Korea is out of the question,” and “Korea is an enemy state.”

On such criticism, Akie mentioned that a member of the Japanese royal family also attended the event, and posted an additional comment reading “There could be different thoughts, but I would like to live harmoniously (with Korea) because it is a neighboring country.” As of Monday, more than 1,600 people clicked “I like it,” suggesting that they sympathize with her. Some uploaded comments in support of her, saying, “She did a wonderful thing at an event her husband cannot attend.”

Earlier on May 9, Akie noted on her Facebook page that she watched the Korean musical “Caffeine” in Tokyo, and uploaded a comment reading “It was fun” along with a photo of her standing in front of a poster.

At that time, a comment was posted on the page, reading, “Her acts were ill advised, considering that Korea is upping offensive against Prime Minister Abe’s recognition of past history.” Akie responded by uploading a post, reading, “I think that we want to get along well with all peoples and countries.”