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| Japan's government admits editing cabinet photo | Japan's government admits editing cabinet photo |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The prime minister is in the centre of the photo, with the defence minister second from left | |
| Japan's government has admitted an official photo of its new cabinet was manipulated to make members look less unkempt after online speculation that it had been edited. | Japan's government has admitted an official photo of its new cabinet was manipulated to make members look less unkempt after online speculation that it had been edited. |
| Photos taken by local media showed the new prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, and his defence minister with small patches of white shirt showing under their suits. | Photos taken by local media showed the new prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, and his defence minister with small patches of white shirt showing under their suits. |
| But in the official photo issued by the prime minister's office, external on Thursday, the untidiness had disappeared. | But in the official photo issued by the prime minister's office, external on Thursday, the untidiness had disappeared. |
| After plenty of online mockery, a government spokesperson on Monday said "minor editing was made" to the image. | After plenty of online mockery, a government spokesperson on Monday said "minor editing was made" to the image. |
| An image taken by the media on the left, and the official photo issued by the prime minister's office on the right | An image taken by the media on the left, and the official photo issued by the prime minister's office on the right |
| Spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters the image had been manipulated as group photos taken by the prime minister's office "will be preserved forever as memorabilia". | Spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters the image had been manipulated as group photos taken by the prime minister's office "will be preserved forever as memorabilia". |
| He added that "minor editing is customarily performed on these photos". | He added that "minor editing is customarily performed on these photos". |
| His comments come after a barrage of mockery on social media. | His comments come after a barrage of mockery on social media. |
| "This is more hideous than a group picture of some kind of a seniors' club during a trip to a hot spring. It's utterly embarrassing," one user wrote on X. | "This is more hideous than a group picture of some kind of a seniors' club during a trip to a hot spring. It's utterly embarrassing," one user wrote on X. |
| Another user said it was clear the cabinet members were wearing suits in the incorrect size. | Another user said it was clear the cabinet members were wearing suits in the incorrect size. |
| Other users have been referring to the cabinet - and their trousers - as "ill-fitting", according to local media. | Other users have been referring to the cabinet - and their trousers - as "ill-fitting", according to local media. |
| The photograph was taken on Thursday following the first meeting of Japan's new cabinet. | The photograph was taken on Thursday following the first meeting of Japan's new cabinet. |
| A few days earlier, Ishiba, 67, replaced outgoing prime minister, Fumio Kishida, as chief of the country's ruling party. | A few days earlier, Ishiba, 67, replaced outgoing prime minister, Fumio Kishida, as chief of the country's ruling party. |
| He was officially appointed to the role of prime minister on Tuesday. | He was officially appointed to the role of prime minister on Tuesday. |
| Ishiba has already announced plans for a snap election on 27 October. | Ishiba has already announced plans for a snap election on 27 October. |
| "It is important for the new administration to be judged by the people as soon as possible," he told a news conference in Tokyo, according to Reuters. | "It is important for the new administration to be judged by the people as soon as possible," he told a news conference in Tokyo, according to Reuters. |
| The election, which is set to take place more than a year before it is due, will decide which party controls parliament's lower house. | The election, which is set to take place more than a year before it is due, will decide which party controls parliament's lower house. |