Twitter meme urges Japanese cabinet minister to take a nap

Edano before: Edano after. Image by shiba36ms

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano is the hardest working politician in the disaster business. Since the earthquake and tsunami hit the country on Friday, Edano has been the public face of the government, giving frequent updates, directed at Japanese citizens, from television. Somewhere around Monday, it became clear that Edano could use a rest, and the Twitter hashtag #edano_nero ("Edano, sleep!") took off. It's meant as a kind gesture, a reminder to Edano to take care of himself a little, from people who've appreciated his hard work.

Via Storyful, and The Wall Street Journal

Maggie Koerth-Baker is the science editor at BoingBoing.net. She writes a monthly column for The New York Times Magazine and is the author of Before the Lights Go Out, a book about electricity, infrastructure, and the future of energy. You can find Maggie on Twitter and Facebook.

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whisper dog

What is with the light blue uniforms you see the Japanese government officials wearing?
OrcOnTheEndOfMyFork

Do you imagine George Walker Bush doing this?. Do you imagine him being asleep for days thinking in the best interest of USA?.

By doing this, Yukio Edano shows he is a true hero, and a real man of honor.

There was a lot to wince about over W’s administration, there’s no question.

But, when it comes to getting enough rest, I’m pretty sure the Presidential physician would never allow 100 hours of sleeplessness, no matter who that President happened to be. I think a well rested decision-maker, or “Decider,” if you will, is much better for the running of a country, especially one in crisis.

One may hope that this would have resulted in better decisions than what actually occurred, but that’s a discussion for another time.
Anonymous

i second the question whisper dog asked, about these blue overalls.
okay, did some googling, it’s an industrial worker’s overall, and that source (http://www.financial.de/news/agenturmeldungen/erdbebenportrat-yukio-edano-das-gesicht-der-japanischen-katastrophe/) suggested that it shall symbolize the government being hardworkingly right on top of the problems (very literal tranlation).
although, if somebody from japan could enlighten us further? i’m aware it’s trivial, but i was genuinely wondering, too.
unit_1421

My issue has been with CNN’s translator for his updates, she sounds like she’s 14 years old.
unit_1421

By the way, what the fuck does “meme” actually mean?
- Rich Keller
  
  Wikipedia sez:
  
  A meme, a relatively newly coined term, identifies ideas or beliefs that are transmitted from one person or group of people to another. The concept comes from an analogy: as genes transmit biological information, memes can be said to transmit idea and belief information.
  
  But, somehow, over the millennia, it went from cultural neccesities, like flintknapping, living indoors and cooking food to LOL cats.
- Ugly Canuck
  
  i me mine
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYclfE6sd4U
  
  i meme mine
Carrie

We saw him on the news yesterday and I turned to my husband saying, “Wow, he looks exhausted!”
My heart goes out to the people of Japan.
Lilah

I heard he did finally get some sleep. It was rumored he stayed up for over a 100 hours giving updates.
Cowicide

This whole thing just breaks my heart, but I’ve also seen so many examples of humanity at its best coming out of the Japanese people there.

GO JAPAN!!!
marco antonio

That’s the sweetest, cutest, most heart-warming bit of Japan-and-the-Internets bits of news I’ve heard for a while. :)

Absolutely love it. Japanism, I tell ya. We should all try it sometime. :D
Ed Ligget. Tuba.

Sure puts “…heckuva job, Brownie” in stark contrast, doesn’t it?
- blueelm
  
  I was seriously just thinking that!
davejenk1ns

The part that gets me to tear up a little is everytime he approaches the podium, he does a short bow to the Hinomaru (Japanese flag) behind the microphone. He is truly trying to fulfill his duty to the state.
benher

He works while Kan sleeps!
DieFem

Do you imagine George Walker Bush doing this?. Do you imagine him being asleep for days thinking in the best interest of USA?.

By doing this, Yukio Edano shows he is a true hero, and a real man of honor.
davejenk1ns

DieFem,

I’d rather keep the focus on Japan, not devolve into partisan US domestic bickering of bygone administrations. Let’s keep the spotlight on the real problems, eh?
- Ugly Canuck
  
  I am afraid that just one spotlight won’t do.
  It really is a three-ring world these days.
  - Cowicide
    
    Agreed.
  - DoctressJulia
    
    Word to that.
- jacobian
  
  “I’d rather keep the focus on Japan, not devolve into partisan US domestic bickering of bygone administrations. Let’s keep the spotlight on the real problems, eh?”
  
  So competence is a partisan issue now?
- DieFem
  
  I am mentioning Bush as he is the uttermost and best known worldwide example of selfishness. There is nothing in particular against Bush.
  
  Here in Uruguay we have and used to have bad governments and selfish presidents as every country had or has, the thing is if I used an Uruguayan president as an example, no one will understand.
Michael

He’s such a remarkable man. He’s always on TV – I cannot even think of a few hours in the last couple of days, in which I haven’t heard anything from him. He’s definitely working his butt off and trying his best. Join the Page â€œPlease, Edano, go to bed.â€ on Facebook, if you think alike. :)