“Kids Who Join the Self-Defense Forces Come from Financially Struggling Families”: Comedian Yasuko, a Former SDF Member, Reacts to Constitutional Democratic Party’s Koga’s “Controversial Remarks”

This is “Constitutional Democratic Party quality”

Chikage Koga (59), a member of the House of Councillors for the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, is facing a massive backlash.

During a June 15 House of Councillors Budget Committee session, while questioning the Ministry of Defense’s public relations activities,

“The children who join the Self-Defense Forces are those from financially struggling families. Children from affluent families don’t join the Self-Defense Forces,”

She later said,

she retracted her statement, saying, “I apologize. I’ll correct that,”

, but that was hardly enough to quell the controversy. Criticism has poured in from all quarters over remarks that could easily be interpreted as “occupational discrimination.”

On the 17th, the Constitutional Democratic Party issued a statement in the name of its leader, Shunichi Mizuoka,

“This statement showed a lack of consideration for the feelings of Self-Defense Forces personnel, their families, and related parties, and resulted in public misunderstanding. Although the individual immediately retracted the statement, apologized, and is deeply remorseful, the responsibility is extremely grave,”

. The party reported that Secretary-General Koga issued a stern warning to Mr. Koga and removed him from his position as lead councilor on the Committee on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. In response, comments on the internet included

“The punishment is too lenient”

“Resign!”

have been circulating online.

This is a “massive blunder” coming as opposition parties intensify their offensive over the “negative campaign video scandal” involving Sanae Takaichi’s camp. A television industry source remarked,

“Among political reporters, it’s being mocked as ‘typical Constitutional Democratic Party quality.’ On the other hand, Prime Minister Takaichi is probably grinning at her opponents’ blunder,”

said a television industry insider.

Amid all this, attention in the entertainment world has turned to the actions of Yasuko (27), a comedian and former Self-Defense Forces member.

I started taking care of a rescue cat named “Abishi”

However, on her X account, she completely ignored Mr. Koga’s remarks. Most recently, she became a topic of conversation when she immediately posted a photo of herself cuddling up to her cat following an earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of 5+ that struck the Kanto region around 7:46 p.m. on June 16. However, about two years ago, she was subjected to verbal abuse on X by Fuwachan (age undisclosed), and immediately

“I’m so sad”

—a reaction that was clearly different from this time. A comedy industry insider close to Yasuko told this site,

“After consulting with her agency and senior comedians, she apparently decided to refrain from posts that might spark controversy. She was also exhausted by the ‘Fuwachan incident,’ which spread further than she expected. Learning from that experience, she’s now strictly avoiding reacting to risky topics,”

revealing the inside story.

Yasuko enlisted in the Self-Defense Forces in 2017 at the age of 17. She currently serves as a Rapid Response Reserve Officer, undergoing 30 days of training annually so she can be mobilized in the event of an emergency or disaster.

In August 2024, she served as a marathon runner on Nippon TV’s “24-Hour TV 47” and reflected on her upbringing during a related program. Her parents divorced when she was two, and she was raised in a single-mother household; she grew up in an environment that was far from financially secure, even resorting to eating bread crusts to stave off hunger.

She joined the Self-Defense Forces after graduating from high school due to financial circumstances. As Yasuko put it

“I understood from elementary school that I had to get a job.”

. When her enlistment was finally confirmed,

“I thought, ‘Now I can finally eat whatever I want,’”

she reportedly thought.

That’s precisely why she must have strong feelings about Mr. Koga’s controversial remarks, but she’s likely choosing not to address them due to various circumstances. According to the comedy industry insider mentioned earlier,

“Yasuko started caring for a rescue cat named ‘Abishi’ in October 2024, following the Fuwachan controversy, and now leads a ‘cat-first’ lifestyle. Although she used to work nonstop—which sometimes made headlines—she reportedly spoke with her agency and is now getting proper days off.People have been saying her ‘public appearances have decreased’ lately, but this is because she’s changed her work style. She herself says that her life has ‘changed’ since she started living with her rescue cat, and she’s probably had enough of the kind of controversy that could disrupt her peaceful life with Abishi.”

he says.

While Fuwachan is making a fresh start as a wrestler with the women’s pro-wrestling promotion “Stardom,” Yasuko also seems to be building a new lifestyle for herself—