上川外相、麻生氏発言問題視せず　野党は批判

　上川陽子外相は３０日の記者会見で、自民党の麻生太郎副総裁から「おばさん」などと呼ばれたことに関し、「どのような声もありがたく受け止めている」と述べ、問題視しない考えを示した。
　一方、共産党の田村智子委員長は記者団に「自民党がジェンダー平等にまじめに取り組んでいない姿勢がにじみ出た。とても恥ずかしい、失礼な発言だ」と批判。社民党の福島瑞穂党首も会見で「明確にセクシュアルハラスメントだ。撤回、謝罪すべきではないか」と断じた。
　麻生氏は２８日の講演で、上川氏について「新たなスター」と評価する一方、「そんなに美しい方とは言わない」と容姿に言及していた。（2024/01/30-19:37）

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said Tuesday that she would not protest recent remarks by Taro Aso, vice president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, mentioning her age and appearance.
   In a speech on Sunday, Aso praised Kamikawa as a rising star. "I look at her and think this old lady is quite something," Aso said.
   "Although she is not particularly beautiful, she speaks with an air of confidence and is fluent in English, and she also actively arranges meetings with people she needs to see," Aso said, adding, "I don't think there has been a foreign minister who could do that."
   "I will gratefully accept any feedback," Kamikawa said at a press conference on Tuesday.
   Opposition parties, however, have criticized Aso's remarks, especially those about Kamikawa's appearance.