Tottori: Japan’s Tibet?

Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba is not happy about having his home prefecture referred to as “Japan’s Tibet”:

Ishiba, currently policy chief for the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, lashed out at the remarks made by DPJ election strategy chief Hajime Ishii, who said on Monday: “Tottori and Shimane prefectures (in western Japan) are sort of like Japan’s Tibet.”

“The prefectures facing the Sea of Japan used to be called the ‘back of Japan,’ and people hailing from those regions have really been frustrated about it,” Ishiba said during a press conference on Wednesday. “It is absolutely intolerable that Ishii harbors such a feeling toward Tibet, Tottori and Shimane prefectures.”

An association of mayors in Tottori have also complained to the media about the comments.

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lala

When I was a kid (over fifty years ago), Iwate was called Tibet of Japan. As I had no idea what Tibet was like, or what Iwate was like for that matter, I imagined Iwate as an exotic off-the-beaten-path kind of place. (Any place south of the Tsugaru Strait is still exotic to me.)

obaka

Ishii should comment to Ozawa about Iwate.
By the way most of my friend don’t know where these prefectures are.
Brian

Could someone explain exactly what the intentions and idea is when an old Japanese politician calls Tottori Japan’s Tibet? Because when I think of Tibet, I tend to think of a somewhat backwards, country place with a different culture ruled by overly-zealous, corrupt, nationalistic thugs. I’m somehow doubting that this Ishii fellow meant that, though.

InJM

I’m trying to find a connection between Tottori and Tibet and the only thing that comes to mind is the Ts.
Level3

Tottori = Tibet?

Hajime Ishii is as good at making analogies as a… um… as a… something that…um… makes bad analogies.
Jrim

Out of interest, do you have any idea what the context was for Ishii’s remarks? It seems like such a weird analogy to make…
nagoriyuki

Referring to Tottori and Shimane as Tibet is not the controversial point.
Hajime Ishii continued his speech like this,
“Are those areas inhabited by any people, or they just have many cattle?”
dobokun

I don’t think Totori is looking for some sort of autonomy.
boxingday

I absolutely agree.

Tottori is more like Japan’s Alabama.

Tottori: Japan’s Tibet?

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