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Photo sparks backlash
A publicity photo released by Japan's Ministry of Defense during the Japanese government's response to a deadly earthquake in southwestern Japan triggered criticism online, with some Japanese netizens accusing Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi of using a natural disaster for self-promotion.
“A magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday”
The earthquake was a magnitude-7.1 quake that struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, and the Japanese government confirmed at least 12 deaths as of press time, according to media reports.
The image was posted on X by Japanese Defense Ministry's press secretary account @PressSec_JMOD on Tuesday evening, showing Koizumi holding a temporary consultation meeting before a press conference.
Ministry spokesman Kimihito Aguin said the photo was intended to show that "we held a pre-press conference discussion in order to deliver the latest information to the public as quickly as possible."
Critics pointed to the composition, including that Koizumi stood at the center of a semicircle formed by ministry officials and wore a blue suit while colleagues dressed mostly in black.
Netizens trade accusations
One Japanese user, @C0Ltn7, said, "Even in a time like this disaster, they're more concerned about taking those 'picture-perfect' photos of how they come across. This is exactly why I can't trust this administration," after the post.
Another Japanese internet user, @ykomotyan, argued, "If they have time to put on this kind of show, they should go to the disaster-hit areas and actually help. This is no time for holding some pre-meeting photo-op," describing the image as staged.
The criticism also extended to a separate photo posted by Cabinet public relations' office showing Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holding discussions with other officials over the earthquake response.
A Japanese internet user, @zackys, questioned the purpose of that meeting, writing, "Did they mistake the disaster response headquarters meeting for some kind of festival or publicity event?"
Chinese netizens also weighed in, with a Chinese user called Danjuan Dawang saying, "It does look a bit like a staged photo op," and adding, "They should pay more attention to disaster relief."
Takaichi death toll rises
As the earthquake response continued, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Wednesday that 13 people had died in the '2026 Kumamoto Earthquake' of magnitude-7.1, with the figure including cases still under investigation for disaster-related causes.
“"Regarding the '2026 Kumamoto Earthquake,' as of 10:30 a.m. today, in addition to 13 fatalities”
In a message posted on X, Takaichi said, "Regarding the '2026 Kumamoto Earthquake,' as of 10:30 a.m. today, in addition to 13 fatalities (including those under investigation for disaster-related causes), extensive damage has been confirmed," and she offered condolences to families.
Takaichi said the government would convene the second Extraordinary Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters meeting later in the day starting at 1:30 p.m. to share the latest situation and accelerate relief and recovery efforts.
In a separate Prime Minister's Office transcript, Takaichi said that as of 8:30 a.m. 13 fatalities had been confirmed, and she urged people in the disaster-stricken areas to take every possible precaution against heatstroke.
The Prime Minister's Office transcript also said local authorities, together with the police, fire departments, the Japan Coast Guard, and the Self-Defense Forces, worked through the night and continued their search and rescue operations.
