Live from Abu Dhabi Connect the World takes you on a journey across continents, investigating the stories that are changing our world.
(CNN) - In an age in which we have grown used to politicians and their spouses being "on message" at all times, the bizarre entry onto the world stage of the wife of Japanese prime-minister elect Yukio Hatoyama has certainly made for entertaining headlines.
Since being launched into the spotlight by her husband’s surprise victory in last week’s general election, Miyuki Hatoyama has claimed that she knew Tom Cruise in a previous life in which the Hollywood star was Japanese and revealed that the couple "eat the sun."
"I guess you’re wondering how I’m eating it. But I just take it and eat it like that," she said in a television interview, grabbing a fist of air and putting her hand to her mouth. "I just grab it and eat it. It makes me feel good."
Previously, Hatoyama has also claimed that her soul traveled to Venus with aliens on a triangular-shaped UFO.
But should we care what Miyuki Hatoyama thinks when it is her husband who has been elected to the challenge of fixing the world’s second-largest economy?
Is she an entertaining sideshow, or should we be worried that a woman of such eccentric opinions holds the ear of one of the world's most powerful men?
Or is Mrs. Hatoyama a breath of fresh air in a still male-dominated world in which glamorous "first ladies" are still expected to dutifully attend banquets and summits on the arms of their husbands –- but keep their opinions to themselves?
Freshness! who cares if she thinks she can fly to the moon.
She knew Tom Cruise in the biblical sense?
Nutjob!
The revealation is quite surprising.There should be more light on this aspect,so that people can believe that there existed a previous birth for everyone.
I would question the ability to make sound judgements on the part of her husband due to their marriage.
She sounds like she is a scientologist. From what I have learned, past lives and claims of outer space travel are things that Scientologists often claim. Who cares really? Whatever makes you happy as long as you don't hurt anyone else.
Maybe she has watched The Last Samurai too much?
Did she realize that "The Last Samurai" starring Mr. Cruise was only a movie...
Talk about a loaded question!! On the one hand, she obviously believes what she says (or she's just messing with the Press) and who are we to say that it's not true. Many, many very sane (what is sane?) people believe in reincarnation especially in the East, and I don't believe that anyone with any intelligence at all believes that we are the only living intelligent beings in the vastness of just our own galaxy not to mention the hundred of billions of others.
On the other hand, saying these things shows nothing more than a lack of judgement on her part. But it's understandable. Most people who've never had the Press on them 24/7 don't really understand how vicious and completely out of context they can be. Everyone still talks about Ronald Reagan being one of our greatest Presidents, and yet it looks like the Press and the writer of this blog has forgotten all about his wife (Nancy) and her fortune tellers giving him advice.
What we have to remember is that HE was elected. Not HER. Every democracy has ways of dealing with incompetence from its elected leaders. Just because a person's spouse believes in something that a sometimes irresponsable Press makes fun of it doesn't make that person any better or worse at his job.
By the way, I personally don't believe in reincarnation. But just remember, people who do think that those of us that don't are just as stupid as we think they are. The only way to know for sure is to die.
She is a joke!!Let her focus on issues that will address matters concerning Japanese women and women needs all over the world.
this is going to be interesting..
I knew Tom Cruise in a former life also. We flew to earth together on a space plane that looked like a DC-8. He kept kicking the back of my seat.
We were eventually dumped in an active volcano and I lost track of him at that point.
Hopefully I will catch up with him again at Xenu's place sometime.
Seeing as Tom Cruise worships an alien overlord named Xenu, they seem to be made for each other.
Asia's Sarah Palin
Really out there with the jumpy, out of focus, beams of light on the UFO Amatuer films.
"I pity the fool."
– [ Thanks for the quote.. Mr T. ]
Nothing ever surprises me nowadays. We`ve come to a day and age where people of all walks of life, wether presidents,prime ministers, or everyday run-of the mill ordinary people are manifesting themselves to the world with incredible mysticism. In the movie, The Last Samurai, Cruise played almost as actually living himself thru the character, and it was a beautiful work of humanity and a gigantic message of appreciation to Japan and its wonderful history by wich Cruise surrendered in his acting the most sublime form to say to Japan; we recognize your heritage, and the importance of its people who must never forget their glorious history, and surrender their country to the ambitions of Western Civilization. I never tire to see this film, no matter how many times before i`ve seen it, makes no difference, for the message has greatness.
i am an atheism so i do not believe in this stuff but maybe that's her spiritual believes and who are we to judge her? a lot of other religions believe in rebirth/reincarnation and most of the head of state of nations claimed to be spiritual people so are they all insane?
People believe in a lot of stupid things; Mary was virgin, God created the world in 6 days, Jesus walked on water and rose from the dead.
Saying that you knew Tom Cruise in a previous life sounds like wishful thinking to me.
Agree with Ana Maria, Freshness!!!
Miyuki Hatoyama is a breath of fresh air! Thank goodness she's not another psychostatic person with only poltically correct opinions properly ingested and regurgitated. I hope the press will report more on her. By the way, the things she says may not be "opinions" but an expanded perception of reality. Ooops, that wasn't a PC thing to say.
She clearly believes what she says, she wouldn't do this for effect. Schizo??
I like Bill's comment!
Rick, I think you got it right. It's the twin sister of Sara, that was REICARNATED! hi..hi..hi!
rick
Why do these people only know celebrities in their past lives? Why hadn't Mrs. Hatoyama known ME in our past lives?
She may have come from PLANET PLUTO! Pluto is a dying Planet that's why she came to EARTH for refuge – and she seemed to be a very lucky woman, because she found the new Japanese PRIME MINISTER!
How much of this merely reflects challenges in translating metaphorical/symbolic speech between Japanese and English, and how much of it truly reflects delusional thinking? I largely reject the notion that husbands should be held accountable for their wives wacky behavior (or vice versa). Neverthless, Mrs Hatoyama sounds pretty batty to me, and her candor with the media will necessarily complicate Mr Hatoyama's efforts to achieve reform in Japan. He should either get her to show some restraint (and, for the sake of her country, she should oblige), or prepare for a short term in office. I predict the latter:
If it took US 2 or 3 years or so to recover the terrible bottom like economy, they said. Today, the announcement of umemployment rate came out after US Dollar went up high against Yen. How long will it take Japan to recover from the once in 100 years recession or deflation spiral or terrible tsunami like social hazard?
Mrs. Hatoyama had better change her fresh air like attitude facing her husband's tremendous challenge? She worked so well as to stand by her spouse, maybe. Would she be a 'changed ' 1st lady of Japan? Even, Japanese are wondering, I guess so, on condition, Japanese female are welcomed to play bigger role, like, for example, Hillary Rodahm Clinton or Michelle Obama.
Peculiar, but adds spice to an otherwise placid Japanese political arena, filled with pomp and circumstance.
that´s one way to solve food supply, stop depleting forests to open new farmland: this technology should be exported to sun rich SubSaharan nations as well as India en Mesoamerica. And of course the obvious end result is that instead of methan gases we´d be producing oxigenated farts!
Who translated her comments from Japanese to English?
Nancy Reagan believed in fortune telling, astrology, etc...while she wielded powerful influence over her husband President Roland Reagan. Wasn't Reagan one of the best Presidents Amercia ever had!? Hum...!
Geeezzzz,
I don't even know myself in this life...!
Well, in a world where Paris Hilton is famous and any idiot has an opinion in the TV talk shows, this is nothing. Good luck Japan.
14 years here in Japan....not surprised by the eccentricity of a culture that now uses "fantasy" to escape reality. Neither am I surprised that the JDP won–everyone knew they would win (even here in the "conservative" countryside). Glad they won, but a "flash in the pan", unfortunately. The LDP will be back soon.
It was a "lock" from the start, Becky. I like your reporting on Rolex-sponsored golf, better. You'd be a great tennis commentator (that interests me a lot more than bland politics here in Japan).
Best.
As a Japanese, I apologize to everyone in the world .
Rebirth and Reincarnation :
The only theories that satisfactorily explain :
1) How child-prodigies happen to be so gifted.
2) Why bad things sometimes happen even to good people.
Answer : Its not just your Karma from your present life, but rather your cummulative Karma, from all of your lives thus far, that determines the events that happens to you.
It would appear that Hinduism has most of the answers.
It make you wonder about her husband's judgement... he must have an interesting family life!..Woa what the japanese were thinking when they voted for this guy?
We are the aliens with whom she travelled to Venus. She is a nice passenger and very polite. She only asked for 2 little packets of peanuts and enjoyed the trip. She gave good feedback afterwards.
She is right. I have seen them together in my previous life.
thats weird, i woke up the other day and dreamed that i would be eating the sun for breakfast, how dissapointed i would be to wake up and find some chinese chick at my breakfast table was polishing off the last of what appeared to have been "sun on toast".
Luckily, i managed to start the triangle spaceship i have in my shed and fly off to venus and pick up another sun from a deli that tom cruise owned.
My breakfast was delicious!
@ chris – yeah, too bad they're wrong...
Enough material here to keep Letterman going for a month!
How is the wife of the head of government considered a country's first lady. Surely this should refer to the wife of the head of state (as it even does in the US) who is currently Emperor Akihito consort.
I don't think she poses a serious threat – she is, however, terribly entertaining. It's nice to see a First Lady not taking herself too seriously.
As long as her husband, the PM, doesn't share the same experiences, I'm not worried at all. To tell the truth, I start to find her very entertainng...
Why do bad things sometimes happen to child prodigies?
It would appear that Stoicism has most of the questions..
Suggestions:
1. Tom Cruise should be deported to Japan ASAP (Of course, Oprah should be consulted first).
2. The UN should form a task force to protect the Sun from any future eating.
Insight:
My mom has even stronger and more vivid imagination; she sees god and demon everywhere. And yet, we did not end up being Charles Mansion; nor did she stuff us in the stove.
So no worries; her hubby will discharge his duties fine.
Note:
To those who think Hinduism has all the answers: I am a Hindu and so is my mother. But she does not seem to have many answers, only her vivid imagination.
Homework for Kevin Trudeau & Donald Barrett:
Now to sell a product that prevents brain damage by mercury poisoning that one may get from eating sushi. The price should be fixed at $19.95 + S&H($50) and the FDA should be blamed for trying to keep people in dark about this product.
May the God of your choice bless you.
Or is it that they are trying show that Mrs. Hatoyama is a breath of fresh air in a still male-dominated world, in a way that the past is better:)
Afterthought:
I would also love to see Tom Cruise, his wife and this Japanese lady in Jerry Springer show. Jerry Jerry!
If they(the USA) are going to boycott scotland then why don't we boycot a war started by Bush for his own political ambition and pull our boys out?
What the hell are we doing in there anyway? and that idiot from where ever called the popularity of the brits going down over there? ask him how we feel!
Paul
Tom Cruise might be a scientologist, but he is neither near to becoming the US President nor a First Husband. The comments of the First Lady of Japan signal an abnormality that reflects poorly upon the new Presidency. While I agree with Happy in Prague's point, two wrongs do not make a right.
She knew Tom ?..humph..big deal, I knew Madonna in a past Life;)
This life is miserable because i missed out on a lot of her tours, she is the devine empress of my Kaballa it was foretold when i was blessed by her (yes, she blessed me when she rubbed her juicy posteriori on Austin's head, i transported meself in betwixt 😉
...do you think that Bryan Adams song, 'i want to be your underwear' had any links to Japanes businessmen's proclivity for teen undies:(..sigh..wishes he was jesus..I will be her underwear gladly in my next reincarnation for sure 😉
Can someone pls send her to seek some professional help....
Ohh yeah, she would get along great with Biden's wife! LOL
She should give joints up!!
Yeah right ... "Let them Eat Cake " , and " The King Has no Clothes " !
Where have all the " Real People " gone ... or are they out there in the Trenches .. fighting the ultimate War .. Global Warming , to Save this Beautiful Planet Earth from being extinguished , and the " Real Life Forms " from becoming " Extinct " by these " Flakes " ????
Who knows what next she will say,maybe she also did see the future for Japan's economy.And by the way,who dosen't like to be on the spot light! ,and why must it be Tom Cruise she saw ,why not some one from her Harmlet .She is enjoying it PEOPLE!
Here in Japan this is really not big news. The ruling elite are famous for their excentric wifes and relitives. They are so inbread its no mistery.
"I want some of what ever she is smoking"
Right. Men are from Mars, women from Venus. So, what's the problem? I wonder if Mr. Hatoyama would be so kind to pull our Mars Rover out of the gumbo for us.
"She eats the sun.... and said her husband does it to" Every Japanese knows that Japanese emperor is considered to be the descendent of Amaterasu, the sun goddess. What she said is really uncanny !
I wonder what will happen if she ever met the Mayor of Kiev. They sound quite similar. Lots to talk about.
now i would recommend that investigation should be held into who's her stuff dealer.?
Well, the interviewer must be extremely talented who could get the 1st lady to open up and talk so much about her experiences. It takes a good listener to make a person start talking.
I wonder.....does she couch jump???
Wasn't there a spat a couple of years ago when it was revealed that Hillary Clinton was having seances with Eleanor Roosevelt and the wife of Gerald Ford, Betty Ford, was alcoholic? I think that at a certain level people just stop being 'normal' from the pressure.
This is worrying. She sounds like she's away with the pixies, and it calls her husband's judgement into question since he's married to her (and we tend to adopt the thinking and attitudes of those whose company we keep). She doesn't even seem to have the presence of mind to realize that it would be better for her husband if she kept her beliefs to herself. That's really bad.
If she isn't joking, this nutcase is going to affect the image of his husband. She should be commited!....or maybe she should join some bizarre religion like his "friend" Tom Cruise..(another wacko)
Afghan cocaine... She had it too much...
all in all, it's cool to see how so many people are focusing on her and the country, now trying to be reborn, waving good-bye to a conservative party ruling for 60 years since WW2.
Maybe she'll do us all a favor and keep the media from giving the spotlights to other nutjobs like Sarah Palin.
I think many of you people who scoff at her comments are just arrogant. Many Japanese people are Buddhist and Buddhist believe in reincarnation. Who are you to judge her for believing what she does? Open your eyes and minds, there are more schools of religious thought than your own Christian views (or whatever it is that you believe that makes you so self righteous!)
metaphor?
ha ha aaaaa
Methinks the First Lady has been sucking down the sake just a tad too much.
I think Lady Mayuki Hotoyama has seen Tom Cruise's "The Last Samurai", many a times and in all possibility, fallen for his looks and charms.......she is candid enough to say so.....with out bothering about the fact that her husband is PM elect......
"Land of the rising sun," eh? What's for dessert?
GREAT !!!! Seriously
Now she and her husband can ask OBAMA about AREA 51
and get the real facts !!! " )
Does she also believe in the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus ?
Wow! She is totally nuts!
Reincarnation is a fact – a law of nature. It's not a question of belief, religion or spirituality. Just as we, the force within, change bodies from childhood, to youth, to middle age and old age – so we change bodies at death. Instead of seeing Japan's first lady as strange, we should recognize she's on to something that's becoming more acceptable in society as time goes on.
I don't think she is a Japanese. Japanes are normaly down to earth people, not wanted to be flying saucers
I believe Mrs Hitoyama, is just making this story just to be on the spotlight.This action of hers can in future have an adverse effect on her husbands political carreer.
Thus woman should be put behind the scenes and be made to stay there. she is a threat to japanese politics... The japanes are in for a treat with this lady....
Bad show by one of the greatest nation first Lady When the whole world is waiting to hear from the newly elected leader of the second richest Nation.
3-Step Solution:
1. Consult Oprah
2. Deport Tom Cruise to Japan ASAP.
3. Form a task force to protect the Sun from anyone trying to eat it.
Problem solved.
It is her fundamental right to freedom of expression even if she ìs the wife of the 'pope' as long as we are sure she ìs mentally stable. Ezedinma (nigeria)
I admire people with sense of humor.
Congratulations to Mrs. Hatoyama.
And congratulations to you and your team for the new show.
The Japanese people have to be concerned with this situation. Crazy First Lady is a reflection of PM's mental state and ability to make sound decisions. It is difficult to believe that no party official bothered to conduct a background check before they pushed him forward as their candidate this year. Does she get airline mileage for traveling between Earth and Venus?
Her brain mixed: Top Gun, The Last Samurai, Tom's Scientology promo video and...."I'm going to soak up the sun" by Sheryl Crow? or maybe Vanilla Skies?, this woman needs a free stress test.