There is a story that has been going around Japan for the last month or so about Prime Minister Mori and U.S. President Clinton. I have a strong suspicion it’s an urban legend, but I’d like to know if anyone has seen it reported on TV or in the newspaper (not that that proves anything), or if it’s been sighted outside Japan.
Before the recent G-8 summit in Okinawa, Mori was prepped by his advisors on how to greet Clinton in English. He was told to say “How are you?”, to which Clinton would respond with something like “fine, and you?” Mori would then answer with “Me, too.”
On the first day of summit, however, Mori went up to Clinton and flubbed his big line, asking “Who are you?” Thinking that Mori was making a joke, Clinton responded “I’m Hillary’s husband.” To which Mori, smiling politely, answered “Me, too.”
This is one of those stories that ‘everyone has heard’, but I don’t recall ever seeing it in the mainstream press or even the gossip papers. Everybody I’ve asked has said they heard it from a friend or a co-worker.
Another reason I suspect this is an urban legend is because it involves two beliefs very prevalent in Japan these days. The first is that PM Mori is not the brightest bulb in the chandelier. The second is that even after years of study, Japanese people can’t speak English (and yes, I know that’s a flagrant over-simplification, but it’s become the national mantra in recent years).
So, has anyone on the other side heard this one?
–sublight.