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AFP: Mori Hopes for Gaffe-Free Show
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori will be on a mission to keep his foot out of his mouth in Okinawa this weekend.
"His biggest [wish] is not to make any gaffes," said politics professor Takayoshi Matsuo. "His hosting the summit has nothing to do with his ability. Foreign leaders have little expectation of Mori and the summit will proceed without his leadership."
Mr Mori has been largely written off by experts since his Liberal Democratic Party-dominated ruling bloc hung on to power after losing a slew of seats in the June 25 general elections.
This G8 summit, the dream of his predecessor Keizo Obuchi, who died on May 14, comes at a critical time for Japan, whose central bankers are fretting over when to tighten ultra-lax monetary policy as the economy stages a tentative recovery. In May, Mr Mori caused uproar by describing Japan as "God's country, centred on the Emperor", recalling the now-taboo wartime creed of a divine emperor. Then, just before the June 25 elections, Mr Mori told wavering voters they should stay in bed.
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