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http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090221/wl_afp/financeeconomyjapanpoliticsvatican_20090221124921
AFP
'Drunken antics' cost Japan minister his job: reports
Sat Feb 21, 7:47 am ET
'Drunken antics' cost Japan minister his job: reports AFP/File – Former Japanese finance minister Shoichi Nakagawa, seen here offering his resignation earlier this week, …
TOKYO (AFP) – Former Japanese finance minister Shoichi Nakagawa set off an alarm at the Vatican after appearing drunk at a Rome press conference, a move which cost him his job, reports said on Saturday.
During a 90-minute tour of the Vatican museums on February 14, he stepped over a security barrier around a statue, setting off an alarm, and touched some works of art that were off-limits to visitors, Japanese media reported.
Nakagawa visited the site after it was closed to the general public, and was accompanied by about 10 people including a senior finance ministry official and Japan's ambassador to the Vatican Kagefumi Ueno, the local reports said.
"He was not acting in a way His Majesty the Emperor would have followed," Ueno was quoted by the daily Mainichi Shimbun as saying.
"He seemed to be so interested in fine art that he wanted to touch things."
Museum officials apparently did not object to Nakagawa's behaviour at the time, Kyodo News quoted unnamed sources as saying.
Nakagawa's office told the public broadcaster NHK: "His condition was not well at that time and he stepped into an off-limits area, setting off an alarm. We sincerely apologise for causing trouble to the people concerned."
Hours earlier, at a news conference following a meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers and central bankers, the 55-year-old Nakagawa slurred his speech, looked drowsy and yawned.
Nakagawa, who has long been reputed for being fond of drinking, said he had sipped some wine at lunch before facing reporters, but blamed cold medicine for his incoherent replies and drowsy appearance.
He resigned on Tuesday after video clips of the press conference quickly spread on the Internet and were seen around the world.
The incident has added to the woes of unpopular Prime Minister Taro Aso, who apologised for Nakagawa's behaviour earlier this week.
AFP
'Drunken antics' cost Japan minister his job: reports
Sat Feb 21, 7:47 am ET
'Drunken antics' cost Japan minister his job: reports AFP/File – Former Japanese finance minister Shoichi Nakagawa, seen here offering his resignation earlier this week, …
TOKYO (AFP) – Former Japanese finance minister Shoichi Nakagawa set off an alarm at the Vatican after appearing drunk at a Rome press conference, a move which cost him his job, reports said on Saturday.
During a 90-minute tour of the Vatican museums on February 14, he stepped over a security barrier around a statue, setting off an alarm, and touched some works of art that were off-limits to visitors, Japanese media reported.
Nakagawa visited the site after it was closed to the general public, and was accompanied by about 10 people including a senior finance ministry official and Japan's ambassador to the Vatican Kagefumi Ueno, the local reports said.
"He was not acting in a way His Majesty the Emperor would have followed," Ueno was quoted by the daily Mainichi Shimbun as saying.
"He seemed to be so interested in fine art that he wanted to touch things."
Museum officials apparently did not object to Nakagawa's behaviour at the time, Kyodo News quoted unnamed sources as saying.
Nakagawa's office told the public broadcaster NHK: "His condition was not well at that time and he stepped into an off-limits area, setting off an alarm. We sincerely apologise for causing trouble to the people concerned."
Hours earlier, at a news conference following a meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers and central bankers, the 55-year-old Nakagawa slurred his speech, looked drowsy and yawned.
Nakagawa, who has long been reputed for being fond of drinking, said he had sipped some wine at lunch before facing reporters, but blamed cold medicine for his incoherent replies and drowsy appearance.
He resigned on Tuesday after video clips of the press conference quickly spread on the Internet and were seen around the world.
The incident has added to the woes of unpopular Prime Minister Taro Aso, who apologised for Nakagawa's behaviour earlier this week.
