MADE IN DAGENHAM

 "MADE IN DAGENHAM" (2010, UK (BBC)).

 I previously watched the Japanese subtitled version. 

 It's a wonderful film. It's truly a British film. It's based on a true story.

 It's a so-called "socially conscious" film, with no flashy production and no star actors, so I wonder if it won't be broadcast on free-to-air television.

 By the way, as an aside, according to Japanese media reports, Japan's new prime minister has declared that he will pursue "heavy metal politics." Due to my lack of knowledge, I don't know what this "heavy metal politics" is. It may be a gimmick to get a laugh, but that's irrelevant.

 According to foreign media reports, she was a drummer in a heavy metal band during her student days. She also apparently rode around on a large motorbike. This was during her student days, nearly 50 years ago.

 In short, they want to portray her as "amazing women" who have broken the stereotype of Japanese women as submissive, demure, quiet, polite, and meek.

 However, this is a "myth" that is far removed from reality.

 "Girl bands" are not at all uncommon. When "Princess Princess" appeared on the scene in the mid-1980s, they were the first "all-girl band" to have a string of hits, and they surprised young people at the time. However, it was not uncommon for girls to be band members and play instruments even before that.

 In the 1970s, girls and even old ladies rode motorbikes and scooters.

 Indeed, there are countless Japanese women who "pretend" to be submissive, demure, quiet, polite, and meek. However, if truly polite Japanese women exist, I think they are likely to be upper-class "young ladies" who have been exceptionally blessed with exceptionally favorable family environments, educational environments, and neighborhoods, and who have been extremely well-bred. Since I have no connection to the "upper class," I have never seen such a "young lady."

 The reality in Japanese villages is the exact opposite. It's safe to say that Japanese women are more likely to turn into cockroaches or two-year-olds than Japanese men.

 A female frog, with only her face camouflaged as a pink camouflage, sits atop a portable shrine carried by a group of black male frogs in a narrow well. This is a scene that is frequently seen by those living in Japan.

 The new female Minister of Finance is similar.

 It's understandable that she may have emotional resentment after a falling out with her ex-husband and divorcing him. However, it's difficult to say that she is entirely free of responsibility, including the process leading up to her official marriage. Decades after remarrying another man, she exposed her married life from several decades ago to major media outlets, while her ex-husband was facing the greatest crisis of his life.

 In her exposé, she spoke of her ex-husband as if he were a crazy, abnormal person, and someone with the lowest morals and character. Can we trust a female politician who behaves in this way?

 The above statements and actions were not made in conversation with friends or relatives, at a lecture, or posted on her social media accounts. She spoke in interviews with major media outlets. She spoke after becoming a member of parliament and winning multiple elections, and it was as a sitting member of parliament (a person of national power who also represents the people; a special civil servant) that she exposed them to major media outlets.

 This is a despicable and cowardly tactic. At the same time, it is a typical tactic frequently used by "Japanese women."

 The Finance Minister said, "Even before we got married, my ex-husband, the governor of Tokyo, intended to use me as an accessory; he only married me because he wanted my title (graduated from the University of Tokyo, was an elite employee at the Ministry of Finance, was Miss Tokyo University; his parents had impressive occupations and titles). He didn't love me, and after we got married, I had a very unpleasant experience in my private life."

 She said, "My ex-husband lined up a bunch of knives on the table in the kitchen and said, 'I'll use these to...'" If this story, told in an interview with a major media outlet, had been a lie, it would be considered defamation (to the average person, this story gives the impression that the ex-husband, the governor, is violent, has a strong desire to dominate and conquer, and is a psychopath with the mentality of a violent criminal), so it's likely that something like this happened at home.

 But why would she expose this to the media at a time when her ex-husband, the governor, was facing the biggest crisis of his life?

 What if the roles were reversed? How would the public react if a middle-aged man did the same thing to his ex-wife, whom he divorced decades ago? What would people say if that man were a current member of parliament?

 If the person were a woman, even a veteran incumbent member of parliament who had been elected multiple times, she might receive sympathy, with comments like, "That must have been tough. It must have been difficult." However, if a man were to do the same thing, he would be criticized and insulted, with comments like, "What a shameful, pathetic, and despicable man!" He could even risk losing his status and power because of his effeminacy.

 In other words, this is the kind of behavior that is unacceptable to "humans" but is acceptable to "women." As a member of parliament for the ruling party, rather than trying to change a society that allows "despicable behavior that is only acceptable to women," she is instead exploiting this gender gap. This "society" is undoubtedly a "male-dominated society."

 Rather than trying to change this "male-dominated society," the newly appointed Finance Minister is taking advantage of the society and exploiting "women."

 Some people say that these women are trying to change male-dominated society and male-dominated politics. However, it is clear that this is nothing more than a myth far removed from reality. They have their base in a "male-dominated society."

 I fear that when the people are in truly difficult situations, these women will not put their lives on the line and sacrifice their own lives to work (like the protagonist in the film above), but will instead betray the people and take the side of the "strong people." This is precisely the typical way of life of a "Japanese woman."

 The story that the new prime minister is a Thatcher admirer has been picked up not only by Japanese mass media but also by foreign mass media (such as the BBC).

 Who she like is a matter of personal preference, so there's no point in others commenting. However, bringing up the name of a world-famous celebrity that everyone knows is boring. There's nothing more to say. All we'll hear is, "Oh, I see. That's impressive. Good luck."

 A politician worthy of becoming prime minister should, in a good way, be a little more creative.

 If I were her close aide or brain trust (though this is highly unlikely), I would have her mention the name "Barbara Castle."

 Mrs Barbara Castle is a real politician who appears in the film mentioned above. She served as a minister in the Wilson administration. I think that if she had become British Prime Minister before Thatcher, the subsequent history of Britain would have been very different. This was a time when the New Détente had collapsed and the storm of neo-conservatism was beginning to rage, so in reality it would have been difficult (it took a long time for the Blair administration to be formed).

 Very few Japanese people know the names of the British female politicians mentioned above. She doesn't even have a Japanese Wikipedia page. (As of October 25, 2025, there are 18 language versions, including English, but no Japanese. In addition to major Western languages, there are also Chinese, Arabic, Pashto, Russian, Welsh, Basque, Comish, Polish, Romanian, Albanian, and Swedish. However, there is no Japanese version. This is common...)

　　https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Castle

 If Japan's new prime minister were to mention the name of one of Mrs Barbara Castle mentioned above, people would naturally say, "Who's that? I've never heard of her." Then they would ask her, "What kind of person is she? What did she do? Why do you respect her?" New prime minister would then answer those questions appropriately. I believe that anyone who heard her response would have a very different impression of the new prime minister.

 Alternatively, I think she could have mentioned Queen Elizabeth I. Those who hear that answer will likely get the impression that the new prime minister has studied British politics and history thoroughly.

 Furthermore, if new prime minister had said something like, "My favorite book is Edmund Burke. As a politician, I consider him my lifelong mentor," it would be almost perfect. It would completely change the impression people have of the new prime minister.

 Of course, lies and superficial explanations would be immediately obvious, so she needs to read many classic works on the history of British parliamentary politics and the history of Western international relations.

 The above answer is more effective than bringing up a cheesy old story like, "Once upon a time, when I was a student, I was in a heavy metal band and rode around on a big motorcycle," which makes it seem like she's "not a weak woman, but a strong, tomboyish woman." 

 It would give the impression both at home and abroad that Japan's new prime minister is (unusually) intelligent, well-versed in Western politics and history, and intellectually sophisticated.

 Also, rather than telling a boring, sob story like, "I passed the entrance exams to Waseda and Keio universities, but my parents said, 'We can't let a girl live alone in Tokyo. We can't afford that,' so I gave up and went to Kobe University," I think it would make a better impression if she said, "I went to Kobe University because I admired it more than Waseda."

 I can see that she has good fashion sense. But an appearance advisor alone is not enough for someone with the highest authority in the nation. It would be best if she had people around her who could "coordinate her words," but that may not be possible in Japan. 

 If she had someone to advise her on words, she wouldn't have declared, immediately after sitting in the prime minister's chair, "From now on, I'm aiming for heavy metal politics." 

 It was probably a statement aimed at appealing to the masses, but it was hard to understand and left people feeling put off.

 It is rare to find people of either gender in Japan with the same caliber of talent as the current White House Press Secretary or last year's Democratic presidential candidate (who, according to her new book, was criticized by the president's aides for being "too good at giving speeches." In fact, she was a better speaker than the previous president and gave the impression of being smarter, which is probably why she was disliked by the president's aides). These women are educated and trained from elementary school in discussion, debate, Q&A, presentations, negotiation and persuasion skills.

 I hope that the new prime minister will not go abroad and say, "I'm a heavy metal politician."