Japan’s government admitted on Monday that it doctored official photos of the new cabinet to make its members look less unkempt.
The decision came after social media users mocked the original image, which showed the Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and secretary of defense Nakatani Moto Unkempt appearance, including sagging pants.
In official photos released by Ishiba’s office, obvious blemishes, such as a patch of white shirt underneath the suit, were removed.
However, the edited version did not escape public scrutiny, sparking online criticism of “messy cabinets”.
top government spokesman Lin Jizheng Addressed the issue and said: “Minor edits have been made.” He explained that the adjustment was to preserve official group photos during major events such as cabinet reshuffles.
“Photographs taken during official events of the Prime Minister’s Office, such as cabinet reshuffles, are kept as souvenirs permanently, so these photos are usually slightly edited,” he said.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (third from right) and his cabinet ministers pose for a photo at Shigeru Ishiba’s residence in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
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