A former defence minister who has backed the formation of an “Asian Nato” is set to become the next prime minister of [Japan](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/japan/) after he was elected leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Friday.
Mr Ishiba takes a tough line on foreign policy, but is also known for his hobbies of model military aircraft and railways, and his penchant for 1970s pop music. He once attended the opening of a museum of figurines of popular comic characters in his home prefecture dressed as a character from the Dragon Ball cartoon.
The 67-year old won Friday’s vote after it was pushed into a runoff with Sanae Takaichi, the economic security minister, blocking her path to making history as the country’s first ever female prime minister.
Earlier this week, China test fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific, reportedly without giving Japan prior notice. Japan also faces security threats from nuclear-armed North Korea.
I somehow thought, how can a model aircraft become a politician in the first place…
quick_Ag on
The real news is that Buu costume.
Fast-Wrongdoer-6075 on
In a few months: “Japan to produce staggering number of aircraft”
quickasawick on
China and the Koreas will use this hobby to accuse him of racism. They’ll find a picture of him with a “Zero” model and accuse him of condoning war crimes. lol
Eviljim on
Snooze… wake me up when they elect someone who plays Battletech.
42mir4 on
Tamiya stocks are going to soar! As a military model enthusiast, I approve.
Maladal on
I remember one of the issues this election was how Japan should handle surnames for married couples. Where’s he fall on that?
295DVRKSS on
I hope he builds Gundams for the military
Specialist_Brain841 on
that’s like one of his hobbies..weird thing to focus on
supercyberlurker on
Is this meant to defame him? Building models, cosplaying as dragonball z characters?
.. because I’m suddenly a fan of his.
Foe117 on
This is how we get… METAL GEAR
JARL_OF_DETROIT on
Tamiya, one of the largest producers of quality model kits is based in Japan so I’m not surprised.
This is good for the hobby!
ExplosiveDiarrhetic on
This is a good direction for japan. Complete foil of shinzo abe. Same political party (they’ve ruled japan since like 1950’s) but the progressive wing.
Shinzo Abe’s rule promulgated war crimes denial and a rewriting of history books. Hopefully kishida steers them towards progress
yoguckfourself on
This is how we finally get Space Battleship Yamato
NA_0_10_never_forget on
>military model aircraft enthusiast
>thumbnail: aircraft carrier
I wouldn’t even be surprised if Japan categorized them as such, ehe
Impossible_Mode_3614 on
He also dressed like freeza (spelling?) from dragon ball z..
winowmak3r on
I can’t see if he has any Tamiya stuff on that table but they make great products for the modeling hobby. I have a bunch of their files, plastic cutters, and glue.
Ch3t on
The Tamiya Corporation just scaled production by a factor of 24.
25 Comments
***The Telegraph reports:***
A former defence minister who has backed the formation of an “Asian Nato” is set to become the next prime minister of [Japan](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/japan/) after he was elected leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Friday.
Shigeru Ishiba will take over the reins from [Fumio Kishida](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/08/14/japan-pm-fumio-kishida-to-step-down/), the outgoing prime minister, who announced in August that he would step down after a series of political scandals hit the LDP, fuelling calls for him to resign.
Mr Ishiba takes a tough line on foreign policy, but is also known for his hobbies of model military aircraft and railways, and his penchant for 1970s pop music. He once attended the opening of a museum of figurines of popular comic characters in his home prefecture dressed as a character from the Dragon Ball cartoon.
The 67-year old won Friday’s vote after it was pushed into a runoff with Sanae Takaichi, the economic security minister, blocking her path to making history as the country’s first ever female prime minister.
Mr Ishiba takes the helm of the world’s fourth-largest economy at a time of geopolitical [volatility in the Indo-Pacific region](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2024/04/25/china-blinken-us-visit-us-taiwan-chinese-navy-pla-air-force/) and increasingly troubled ties between Tokyo and Beijing over China’s territorial ambitions, particularly around the disputed Senkaku Islands.
Earlier this week, China test fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific, reportedly without giving Japan prior notice. Japan also faces security threats from nuclear-armed North Korea.
**Read more:** [**https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/09/27/shigeru-ishiba-military-model-aircraft-japan-prime-minister/**](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/09/27/shigeru-ishiba-military-model-aircraft-japan-prime-minister/)
It’s funny to think that a guy who spends his weekends building tiny planes is now in charge of one of the world’s largest economies.
Of all the important parts of his background, *this* is what the media focuses on? The fuck is wrong with journalism these days?
For some reason, I remembered the French comedy film Banzaï from 1983
His first meeting with the defense ministry and there’s a bunch of mecha kits on his desk… “Gentlemen, I have some ideas.”
i’m more impressed with his dragon ball costume https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/world-news/2024/09/27/TELEMMGLPICT000395710273_17274294098980_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqqVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwWx3IlVmUNJx4R0gaTkYOuw.jpeg?imwidth=960
Are we shaming hobbies now?
I somehow thought, how can a model aircraft become a politician in the first place…
The real news is that Buu costume.
In a few months: “Japan to produce staggering number of aircraft”
China and the Koreas will use this hobby to accuse him of racism. They’ll find a picture of him with a “Zero” model and accuse him of condoning war crimes. lol
Snooze… wake me up when they elect someone who plays Battletech.
Tamiya stocks are going to soar! As a military model enthusiast, I approve.
I remember one of the issues this election was how Japan should handle surnames for married couples. Where’s he fall on that?
I hope he builds Gundams for the military
that’s like one of his hobbies..weird thing to focus on
Is this meant to defame him? Building models, cosplaying as dragonball z characters?
.. because I’m suddenly a fan of his.
This is how we get… METAL GEAR
Tamiya, one of the largest producers of quality model kits is based in Japan so I’m not surprised.
This is good for the hobby!
This is a good direction for japan. Complete foil of shinzo abe. Same political party (they’ve ruled japan since like 1950’s) but the progressive wing.
Shinzo Abe’s rule promulgated war crimes denial and a rewriting of history books. Hopefully kishida steers them towards progress
This is how we finally get Space Battleship Yamato
>military model aircraft enthusiast
>thumbnail: aircraft carrier
I wouldn’t even be surprised if Japan categorized them as such, ehe
He also dressed like freeza (spelling?) from dragon ball z..
I can’t see if he has any Tamiya stuff on that table but they make great products for the modeling hobby. I have a bunch of their files, plastic cutters, and glue.
The Tamiya Corporation just scaled production by a factor of 24.