Public Appearance

Public appearance is important. You cannot judge a dog by its coat, it is often said, but the coat is one of the things to judge a dog by.

In Japan, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has been widely critizised for his way to dress. While you can justifiably say that his politics and his ability to fulfill election promises is the most important things to judge, appearances is by no means unimportant. Who wants a PM you get embarrased of when you see him? It is as if I would appear on a dog show in a dirty, uncared for coat. Appearances are perhaps more important in Japan than anywhere else in the world, and I do understand that PM Hatoyama's way to dress has added to his falling popularity in the polls. Somebody should hire him a better stylist.