JAPAN: Vice Minister’s Vice

The official Japanese news censorship, one of the tightest in the world on political items, last month loosened up to pass this most candid-story-of-the-year in Tokyo’s great newsorgan Nichi Nichi;

VICE MINISTER HAS LICKING HABIT

“Vice Minister Yuzawa of the Home Office on the occasion of his daughter’s wedding was so much moved with his delight that he licked the face of the bridegroom to the surprise of the assembly. To speak the truth, Mr. Yuzawa has the curious habit of licking people’s faces when he gets drunk.

“Since his appointment as Vice Minister of Home Affairs, his closest friends, much concerned over his notorious habit, advised him to correct the curious habit. Seeing much truth in the advice, Mr. Yuzawa has been refraining from it as much as possible, but when he attends a drinking party and gets drunk, he feels the temptation and is often seen licking his own hands to comfort himself in his melancholy state.

“When Mr. Yuzawa begins licking his hands, his friends get frightened, and say: ‘Don’t get too close to him.’ “