Tokyo, August 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has faced criticism on social media after a video of her visit to an earthquake-hit area in southwestern Japan, featuring piano music, was described by some users as a political publicity exercise.
The video, posted by the Prime Minister’s Office, showed Takaichi’s visit to Kumamoto Prefecture on Monday following the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck the region on July 28. It included visuals of the Prime Minister conducting an aerial survey of damaged areas from a helicopter, interacting with affected residents and visiting an evacuation centre.
Several social media users criticised the presentation of the video. One user on X described it as “government PR”, while another accused the administration of attempting to gain political advantage from a natural disaster.
Responding to the criticism, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara defended the video at a press conference on Wednesday, saying it was intended to provide a brief and easy-to-understand summary of the Prime Minister’s inspection of the affected areas.
Addressing questions over the use of background piano music, Kihara said the format was adopted to make the details of the visit more accessible to viewers.
During her visit, Takaichi assured earthquake survivors that the government would extend all possible assistance. She visited an evacuation shelter in Hikawa town while wearing a disaster response uniform.
The Prime Minister also inspected damage from a helicopter, including the Aeon shopping mall in Kashima town, where an explosion following the earthquake claimed seven lives, and a paper plant in Yatsushiro where nine people died.
Aerial footage captured by Japan’s public broadcaster NHK showed extensive structural damage, including peeled exterior walls, exposed steel frameworks, roof damage and a large hole on the rooftop of one affected building.
The controversy comes amid growing political challenges for Takaichi, with recent opinion polls indicating a decline in approval ratings for her Cabinet.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the Kumamoto earthquake has risen to 38, according to the prefectural government.
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