Key Facts
• June 18: Minister Shinjiro Koizumi posts a 9-second beef bowl video on social media.
• Video garners over 70 million views on X (formerly Twitter) within two days.
• Koizumi filmed himself eating takeout beef bowl in an official car before a Diet session.
• The beef bowl was purchased from a Yoshinoya branch near the National Diet Building.
• Public reactions include criticism of ‘populist’ behavior and calls for more serious focus.
• Opposition lawmaker Ichiro Ozawa criticized the video, calling it a ‘national crisis.’
• Koizumi’s past food review videos did not achieve similar levels of engagement.
Summary
Japanese Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s 9-second video of him eating a beef bowl in his official car before a parliamentary session has sparked significant public attention. Posted on June 18, the video surpassed 70 million views on X (formerly Twitter) within two days, making it his most-viewed food review post. The beef bowl was purchased from a Yoshinoya branch near the National Diet Building. While some users criticized the video as a populist stunt, others suggested he focus on more pressing issues. Opposition lawmaker Ichiro Ozawa condemned the video, warning it reflects a loss of focus on critical national matters. Koizumi has previously shared similar food-related content, but none reached this level of engagement.
