Touting Prime Minister Takaichi as “An Uncookable (Gritty) Lady”
KAWATO Akio / Former Ambassador to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, Newsweek Japan Columnist
November 20, 2025
On November 8, Xue Jian, China’s Consul General in Osaka, posted the following on X, directly attacking Prime Minister Takaichi: “If she sticks her filthy head into our affairs, it must be cut off without a moment’s hesitation. Is she ready for that?”
He was reacting to the prime minister’s remarks at the Lower House Budget Committee the previous day, where, in response to persistent queries on Taiwan contingencies, she stated that if there should be a use of force, the situation could qualify as a “survival-threatening crisis” which would allow Japan to exercise its right of collective self-defense (meaning to offer assistance to the US forces operating for Taiwan).
“Filthy head”? ---Perhaps he imagined she was so busy preparing for Diet deliberations that she hadn’t had the time to bathe the night before (she was perusing the Q&A with her aides at 3 A.M.). But to me—as someone who also served as a diplomat—the phrase “filthy head” sounded utterly vulgar. Criticizing a prime minister’s policy views is his prerogative, but using language like this demeans the dignity of China and the Chinese people as a whole. Is this really the kind of person China appoints as a diplomat? Does such an uncivilized rhetoric still survive in China?
Should the prime minister condemn him with moral indignation and show “a firm response”?
I don’t think so. A nation’s leader should not stoop to the level of arguing with a mere consul general. Then what about declaring him persona non grata and expelling him within a few days? Japan could do that, but what would come next? Would it be favorable for Japan? If Japan expels Xue Jian, China will almost certainly retaliate by expelling Japanese diplomats. Japanese diplomats are expensive to train—they often spend years studying abroad on government funds. There are few people with comparable competence and experience who can immediately replace them, and they can’t just be pulled from their current posts overnight.
In cases like this, when someone attacks you with words, it’s enough to hit back—also with words—but in a way that causes damage that cannot be easily repaired. For example, the prime minister could post something like:
“I wash my neck thoroughly every day in the bath. Do all Chinese people really speak like this? Not long ago in Busan, I met President Xi Jinping, and we agreed to advance our comprehensive strategic relationship of mutual benefit. It seems Consul General Xue didn’t like that. But I have no intention of deviating from that agreement, and my future statements will be consistent with it.”
Of course, it would be hard for the prime minister herself to post on social media all the time, so she should have a small team of specialists do it for her. They should be given broad authority to send out messages with the approval of the prime minister and a few top aides —without getting bogged down in layers of bureaucratic procedure. In these situations, the one who speaks first wins. Speed is everything. Bureaucrats, who cherish the sacred process of “report, inform, consult,” will complain, but this kind of direct communication by leaders themselves is already the global norm.
Meanwhile, as I was writing this, the situation escalated. The Chinese government reacted sharply to what it called “Japan’s interference in Taiwan,” and urged its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan. This has gone far beyond a mere social-media squabble.
The United States and China had just managed to stabilize their relationship after the recent summit in Busan, South Korea. Beijing seems to think: “We no longer need to cozy up to ‘little Japan’ (xiao riben. A nickname to belittle Japan). From here on, we’ll make sure Tokyo keeps its mouth shut on Taiwan. Let’s teach this hawkish Prime Minister Takaichi a lesson.”
If Japan-China relations become paralyzed, Japan’s diplomacy across Asia also becomes more difficult. In this situation, what Japan needs is the opposite of an SNS squabble. It needs a back-channel—one where both sides can step away from public accusations and search for a solution that saves face for both sides.
Prime Minister Takaichi reportedly admires the “Iron Lady”, Margaret Thatcher, but relying solely on a strong image only creates more problems and undermines her own position. This might be the time for her to cultivate a different persona— a lady who is uncookable (can be neither boiled or grilled) in Japanese culinary metaphor, or “a gritty lady” in English.
（This article was published in “Newsweek Japan” on November 18, 2025.）
He was reacting to the prime minister’s remarks at the Lower House Budget Committee the previous day, where, in response to persistent queries on Taiwan contingencies, she stated that if there should be a use of force, the situation could qualify as a “survival-threatening crisis” which would allow Japan to exercise its right of collective self-defense (meaning to offer assistance to the US forces operating for Taiwan).
“Filthy head”? ---Perhaps he imagined she was so busy preparing for Diet deliberations that she hadn’t had the time to bathe the night before (she was perusing the Q&A with her aides at 3 A.M.). But to me—as someone who also served as a diplomat—the phrase “filthy head” sounded utterly vulgar. Criticizing a prime minister’s policy views is his prerogative, but using language like this demeans the dignity of China and the Chinese people as a whole. Is this really the kind of person China appoints as a diplomat? Does such an uncivilized rhetoric still survive in China?
Should the prime minister condemn him with moral indignation and show “a firm response”?
I don’t think so. A nation’s leader should not stoop to the level of arguing with a mere consul general. Then what about declaring him persona non grata and expelling him within a few days? Japan could do that, but what would come next? Would it be favorable for Japan? If Japan expels Xue Jian, China will almost certainly retaliate by expelling Japanese diplomats. Japanese diplomats are expensive to train—they often spend years studying abroad on government funds. There are few people with comparable competence and experience who can immediately replace them, and they can’t just be pulled from their current posts overnight.
In cases like this, when someone attacks you with words, it’s enough to hit back—also with words—but in a way that causes damage that cannot be easily repaired. For example, the prime minister could post something like:
“I wash my neck thoroughly every day in the bath. Do all Chinese people really speak like this? Not long ago in Busan, I met President Xi Jinping, and we agreed to advance our comprehensive strategic relationship of mutual benefit. It seems Consul General Xue didn’t like that. But I have no intention of deviating from that agreement, and my future statements will be consistent with it.”
Of course, it would be hard for the prime minister herself to post on social media all the time, so she should have a small team of specialists do it for her. They should be given broad authority to send out messages with the approval of the prime minister and a few top aides —without getting bogged down in layers of bureaucratic procedure. In these situations, the one who speaks first wins. Speed is everything. Bureaucrats, who cherish the sacred process of “report, inform, consult,” will complain, but this kind of direct communication by leaders themselves is already the global norm.
Meanwhile, as I was writing this, the situation escalated. The Chinese government reacted sharply to what it called “Japan’s interference in Taiwan,” and urged its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan. This has gone far beyond a mere social-media squabble.
The United States and China had just managed to stabilize their relationship after the recent summit in Busan, South Korea. Beijing seems to think: “We no longer need to cozy up to ‘little Japan’ (xiao riben. A nickname to belittle Japan). From here on, we’ll make sure Tokyo keeps its mouth shut on Taiwan. Let’s teach this hawkish Prime Minister Takaichi a lesson.”
If Japan-China relations become paralyzed, Japan’s diplomacy across Asia also becomes more difficult. In this situation, what Japan needs is the opposite of an SNS squabble. It needs a back-channel—one where both sides can step away from public accusations and search for a solution that saves face for both sides.
Prime Minister Takaichi reportedly admires the “Iron Lady”, Margaret Thatcher, but relying solely on a strong image only creates more problems and undermines her own position. This might be the time for her to cultivate a different persona— a lady who is uncookable (can be neither boiled or grilled) in Japanese culinary metaphor, or “a gritty lady” in English.
（This article was published in “Newsweek Japan” on November 18, 2025.）
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
高市総理は「煮ても焼いても食えない女」に
河東 哲夫 / 元駐ウズベキスタン・タジキスタン大使、ニューズウイーク日本版コラムニスト
2025年 11月 20日
8日、中国の薛剣・駐大阪総領事は高市首相を名指し、Xに「勝手に突っ込んできたその汚い首は一瞬のちゅうちょもなく斬ってやるしかない。覚悟ができているのか」と投稿した。首相が7日の衆院予算委員会で、台湾有事に関する再三の質問の中で、武力攻撃が発生した場合は日本が集団的自衛権を行使できる「存立危機事態」となり得る(台湾で行動する米軍を支援できる)、と述べたのにかみついたもの。
「汚い首」・・・多分、国会答弁の準備で前夜風呂にも入れていないと思ったのかもしれないが、同じ外交官をしていた筆者の目には下劣そのものに聞こえる。総理の発言を批判するのは彼の勝手だが、この言い方は中国、そして中国人全体の品格を落としてしまう。中国はこんな人物を外交官にしているのか。中国では、ああいう非文明的な物の言い方がまだ残っているのか、と思う。
こういう時総理は、道徳観を振りかざして「毅然たる対応」をするべきなのか？ そうは思わない。一国の総理が、たか(・・)が一総領事と同格で議論を始めることはない。では、ペルソナ・ノン・グラータ扱いで、数日内の国外退去を求めるか？ そうしてもいいが、その次情勢はどう展開していくか、それは日本にとって有利かどうか。薛剣総領事を追い出せば、中国は日本人外交官の退去を求めてくるだろう。日本の外交官は数年にわたる国費での外国留学など、元手がかかっている。同じ能力・経験を持つ「替え」はそうそういないし、今のポストからすぐはがせるわけでもない。
こういう時は、口先で飛び掛かってきた相手には、同じく口先で回復不能なダメージを与えればいいのだ。たとえば「私は毎日風呂で首をきれいに洗っています。中国人の方々はまさか全員、このような言い方をされるのでしょうか？ 私はこの前釜山で、習近平国家主席とお会いして、両国はこれからも戦略的互恵関係を包括的に推進していくことで合意しています。薛剣総領事はこれが気に入らなかったのでしょう。私はこの合意から外れるつもりはなく、これからの発言もこの合意に則るものになるようにする所存です」という一文をXなどに投稿する。
とは言え、総理自身でいつもSNSに書き込むのも大変なので、専門のスタッフを数名置けばいいだろう。そのスタッフには大きな権限を持たせ、官僚的な手続きを省いて（時間がかかる）、総理と主要スタッフ数名の了解だけでメッセージを発信する。この手の発信は、先に言った方が勝ち。スピードが生命なのだ。ホウレンソウ（報告・連絡・相談）を大事にする日本の官僚は目くじら立てるだろうが、首脳外交はもう世界標準になっている。
そんなことを書いているうち、事態は進展し、中国政府が「台湾への日本の介入」に反発。国民に日本への渡航を控えるよう、呼びかけた。もうSNSですむ問題ではない。
米中はこの前の首脳会談で、関係を改善したばかり。「中国は、もう『小日本』にすり寄る必要はない。今後台湾のことでは日本に何も言えないようにしてやろう。タカ派の高市総理に目に物みせてやろう」ということで攻めて来る。
こうして日中関係が麻痺すると、日本の対アジア外交もやりにくくなる。ここはSNSとは正反対、ウラで双方の面子が立つ収拾法を考える。双方とも公式の立場を離れて、柔軟に打開策を話し合うチャンネルを持つのだ。
高市総理は「鉄の女サッチャー」が好きだそうだが、強面一本鎗では問題ばかり起き、自分の立場が悪くなるばかり。ここはひとつ、「煮ても焼いても食えない女・高市」を売り出したらどうか。
(本記事は２０２５年１１月１８日付きニューズウイーク日本版に掲載された。)
「汚い首」・・・多分、国会答弁の準備で前夜風呂にも入れていないと思ったのかもしれないが、同じ外交官をしていた筆者の目には下劣そのものに聞こえる。総理の発言を批判するのは彼の勝手だが、この言い方は中国、そして中国人全体の品格を落としてしまう。中国はこんな人物を外交官にしているのか。中国では、ああいう非文明的な物の言い方がまだ残っているのか、と思う。
こういう時総理は、道徳観を振りかざして「毅然たる対応」をするべきなのか？ そうは思わない。一国の総理が、たか(・・)が一総領事と同格で議論を始めることはない。では、ペルソナ・ノン・グラータ扱いで、数日内の国外退去を求めるか？ そうしてもいいが、その次情勢はどう展開していくか、それは日本にとって有利かどうか。薛剣総領事を追い出せば、中国は日本人外交官の退去を求めてくるだろう。日本の外交官は数年にわたる国費での外国留学など、元手がかかっている。同じ能力・経験を持つ「替え」はそうそういないし、今のポストからすぐはがせるわけでもない。
こういう時は、口先で飛び掛かってきた相手には、同じく口先で回復不能なダメージを与えればいいのだ。たとえば「私は毎日風呂で首をきれいに洗っています。中国人の方々はまさか全員、このような言い方をされるのでしょうか？ 私はこの前釜山で、習近平国家主席とお会いして、両国はこれからも戦略的互恵関係を包括的に推進していくことで合意しています。薛剣総領事はこれが気に入らなかったのでしょう。私はこの合意から外れるつもりはなく、これからの発言もこの合意に則るものになるようにする所存です」という一文をXなどに投稿する。
とは言え、総理自身でいつもSNSに書き込むのも大変なので、専門のスタッフを数名置けばいいだろう。そのスタッフには大きな権限を持たせ、官僚的な手続きを省いて（時間がかかる）、総理と主要スタッフ数名の了解だけでメッセージを発信する。この手の発信は、先に言った方が勝ち。スピードが生命なのだ。ホウレンソウ（報告・連絡・相談）を大事にする日本の官僚は目くじら立てるだろうが、首脳外交はもう世界標準になっている。
そんなことを書いているうち、事態は進展し、中国政府が「台湾への日本の介入」に反発。国民に日本への渡航を控えるよう、呼びかけた。もうSNSですむ問題ではない。
米中はこの前の首脳会談で、関係を改善したばかり。「中国は、もう『小日本』にすり寄る必要はない。今後台湾のことでは日本に何も言えないようにしてやろう。タカ派の高市総理に目に物みせてやろう」ということで攻めて来る。
こうして日中関係が麻痺すると、日本の対アジア外交もやりにくくなる。ここはSNSとは正反対、ウラで双方の面子が立つ収拾法を考える。双方とも公式の立場を離れて、柔軟に打開策を話し合うチャンネルを持つのだ。
高市総理は「鉄の女サッチャー」が好きだそうだが、強面一本鎗では問題ばかり起き、自分の立場が悪くなるばかり。ここはひとつ、「煮ても焼いても食えない女・高市」を売り出したらどうか。
(本記事は２０２５年１１月１８日付きニューズウイーク日本版に掲載された。)
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟