Japanese Lionheart to step down
>> WHAT'S THE STORY?
Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, known as Lionheart' to his once-adoring electorate, steps down from office on Wednesday after five-and-ahalf years in the job. Popular amongst the Japanese for his assertive foreign policy stances (which made him deeply unpopular with the Chinese) Koizumi most recently hit international headlines after the birth of the first royal prince in over 40 years. Koizumi had been planning reforms to allow a girl take the throne, much to the anger of conservatives.
>> WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?
"Not only the members of the imperial family, but all the people of Japan must have felt happy, " Koizumi said, after the birth of Prince Hisahito. "We're hoping for the boy's healthy growth." You can bet they are, given that there's no 'spare'' in the event of anything happening to Hisahito. So while reforms to let a woman take the throne may have been gladly shelved for the time being (and in Koizumi's case, forever), the issue is still very much alive.
>> WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Koizumi can now look forward to a well-deserved retirement after 34 years in politics. Spending time with the family will be rather fraught however. Koizumi divorced his wife Miyamato in 1982 and took sole custody of their two elder sons, who have not seen their mother since.
Meanwhile, the youngest son has remained with his mother and has never met his father, who refuses to see him. Happy families it is not.
Lift the blues with a night in Whelan's
>> WHAT'S THE STORY?
Four hip and/or happening Irish bands join forces with webzine Cluas. com and depression charity AWARE for an stellar evening of music and fun.
The gig is taking place next Friday in Whelan's on Wexford Street in Dublin and features Joe Chester, Coldspoon Conspiracy, 66e and LOST.
Channel 6 music queen Michelle Doherty (LEFT) is the mistress of ceremonies for the evening.
>> WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?
"Chester's music is more dynamic than some of the singersongwriters he will get lumped in with . . . he can switch moods, with the sounds remaining as sweet and the choruses just as catchy, " according to an RTE review. Hot Press wrote of the Coldspoon Conspiracy as "a blissful mix of sonic treats that hits home with all the precision of an assassin's bullet. . . fresh and invigorating."
>> WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
You go to the gig. It's only 13 including booking fee and tickets are available from the WaV Ticketbox (1890-200-078). The evening will also feature a raf"e with tonnes of CDs and one-off Electric Picnic 2006 prints from fashion photographer Lili Forberg.
A showcase of four great acts, prize booty and all going to a good cause . . . what more could you ask for from a Friday night?
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YOU ARE HERE: 19 March 2007 / tribune.ie / 2006 / 09 / 17
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