A simultaneous investigation of the restaurants frequented by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, “Kishidano Gourmet”!

In the world of politics, there is a saying, “One meal is better than ten greetings. Once you have shared a meal with someone, you get to know them and deepen your relationship. Politics and food are inseparable, and for this reason, many politicians have lived their political careers with a strong sense of commitment and philosophy regarding food.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, 64, has been in office for almost four months now. In terms of politics, he seems to be an “honor student” who can handle the dynamics of factions and Kasumigaseki, but how is he doing in terms of food? In this article, we take a thorough look at the “Kishida-no-Gourmet” that Kishida has been enjoying since assuming office.

The first thing that catches my eye is the high rate of use of restaurants in hotels in Tokyo. These include Taikanen, a Chinese restaurant at the Hotel New Otani in Kioicho; Mizuken, a Japanese restaurant at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu in Nagatacho; Yamazato, a Japanese restaurant at The Okura Tokyo in Toranomon; and Taokalin, a Chinese restaurant.

At these restaurants, Kishida visits with his cabinet members and party officials, including Hagiuda Koichi, 58, minister of economy, trade and industry, and Takaichi Sanae, 60, policy chief. Of course, the dinners are for political meetings, but they are all close to the Prime Minister’s Office and other places, and are said to be ‘all solid restaurants typical of Kishida,'” said a LDP lawmaker.

Kishida also frequents the Chinese restaurant Amber Palace and the Japanese restaurant Wadakura at the Palace Hotel Tokyo in Marunouchi, the teppanyaki Kamon at the Imperial Hotel in Hibiya, and the Japanese restaurant Soten at The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho. Food critic Masuhiro Yamamoto says, “When you’re the prime minister, you eat a lot.

When you are the prime minister, your first priority is security rather than enjoying a meal. It is preferable for him to go to a restaurant where security is easy, such as in a hotel, rather than in a crowded building. I think the food is secondary to the security aspect.

Sukiyaki with family at the end of the year

The impression of Prime Minister Kishida at the dinner was not bad at all. A reporter from the political section of a national newspaper said, “He likes sake.

He likes sake, and even when he drinks, he loosens his tie a little, but he doesn’t seem to be disruptive. He is not the type of person who drinks and talks behind other people’s backs. If someone says something like, ‘These days, Ms. Koike is ……,’ I just chime in and say, ‘That’s just the way she is.

The photo above was taken in 2006, when Prime Minister Kishida (then the chairman of the policy research committee) had a dinner with his aides at Teppan Sakura Taya in Roppongi. After the meal, Kishida shook hands with those in attendance and others who seemed to be related to the restaurant, indicating that he was in a friendly mood.

Prime Minister Kishida has often visited the restaurant with his office staff and his wife Yuko. These include the French restaurant Hôtel de Mikuni in Yotsuya, the yakitori restaurant Honke Abeya Kagurazaka in Kagurazaka, and the yakiniku restaurant Shokuen Yuugentei Akasaka in Akasaka. On New Year’s Eve last year, he visited Asakusa Imahan Kokusai Dori Honten, a sukiyaki restaurant in Asakusa with his family.

Mr. Masao Nagata, a food business consultant, talks about Kishida-no-Gourmet.

Looking at the restaurants they visit, I get the impression that they are conservative. First of all, they are all located around the Diet and the Prime Minister’s Office. It could be said that they are there to respond to emergencies, but on the other hand, it also seems that they want to contain such criticism. All of the restaurants are good, but the choice is made to be firm and not to make mistakes. I guess you could say he is an ‘honor student’ in his choice of restaurants.

Political commentator Harumi Arima said.

Former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, 73, used to regard dinners as a place to expand his network and learn something. He would then choose a restaurant that he thought the other person would like to visit. I got the impression that once they liked a restaurant, they would use it all the time. Ichiro Ozawa (79), who is not the prime minister, likes to drop by Shouya, a common izakaya (Japanese style pub). Of course, he would go to proper restaurants, but he would always go to Shouya with people he knew well. Looking at the restaurants he goes to, it doesn’t look like he is going out to eat to expand his network, nor does it look like he is venturing out to eat at common restaurants.

Prime Minister Kishida is now faced with the challenge of dealing with the new coronary heart disease, a situation that his predecessors have never experienced. I want him to eat what he really likes and regain his energy.

From the February 11, 2022 issue of FRIDAY