Skills gap in Japan

Cybersecurity minister has never used computer

Skills gap in Japan
Japan's Olympic Minister Yoshitaka Sakurada attends a news conference in Tokyo, on Oct. 2. REUTERS/Issei Kato

TOKYO — When Yoshitaka Sakurada was selected as minister in charge of cybersecurity in Japan in October, the 68-year-old politician certainly had plenty of experience in government, having first been elected to parliament in 1996.

But his most recent appointment might be a bit of a stretch, judging by comments he made to parliament.

Sakurada, who is also in charge of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, admitted he has never used a computer, according to the Associated Press.

“I give instructions to my aide and so I don’t punch into a computer myself,” he said. “But I am confident our work is flawless.”

Although he’s not expected to have much hands-on responsibility in his role, Sakurada’s comments are said to be an embarrassment for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

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