Japanese Finance Minister, drunken Rome news conference.
Shoichi Nakagawa has been accused of being drunk at a G7 news conference at the weekend and its been demanded that he resign by the Japanese opposition, its been reported.
The Japanese Finance Minister said he appeared to be in a drunken state because of some cold medicine he had been taking at the time, others say he had too much Sakai to drink.
Shoichi Nakagawa was seen drinking from a glass of wine at a lunch before the news conference at the Rome G7 summit. The Italian summit, attended by officials from the worlds biggest economies, focused discussion on the current financial and economic crisis.
Video of the incident is viral in Japan today and comes at a time when the Japanese economic situation is the worst since World War 2 and the popularity of the Prime Minister of Japan Taro Aso plummeting.
"His responsibility for having shown disgrace to the world is heavy. I think this is an embarrassment," one politician was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Another Japanese politician said Shoichi Nakagawa had problems with alcohol in the past.
Former prime minister Yoshiro Mori, asked about the news conference, told Japanese TV he had discussed such issues with Nakagawa in the past.
"Since he really loves to drink, I advised him once to be careful about drinking," Mori said.
Update: Shoichi Nakagawa tells Tokyo media he will resign.
Shoichi Nakagawa drunken press conference video:
he's not drunk. that behavior is not due to alcohol. those are opiate side effects, plain and simple.
You and some foreign media said that. So he is forced to quit today.
What do you think that?
Isn't it crazy?
It is unbelievable! May some people wanted his end. They found the right way..
He's drunk. He's a famous drunk and his bellyaching about cold medicine are the excuses of a drunk. I hope he manages to get some help.
I say leave the guy alone, so he had a few drinks! :)