Election Cartoon
The Asahi Shimbun (major newspaper) published this editorial cartoon about the upcoming American presidential election today. Interesting.
Editorial cartoon from the Asahi Shimbun Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 on page 26.
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The caption reads: 「ちょいと本選試投をしてみるか」. In English that says something like “Let’s see about throwing a ball for the real election once in a while.” It implies that Hillary’s days are numbered, since it implies that the election in November will be between Obama and McCain. The bottom part says 「クリントンさん 頭越に失礼」or “An overhead slight for Mrs. Clinton.” I’m not really familiar with these kanji, but I think I’ve interpreted correctly.
Another interesting note about the caricatures: Obama has a big, honkin’ Tengu nose. Is it because he’s the foreigner in the foreground? Why not focus on his ears, like many American editorial cartoonists do? He’s sensitive about them and everything… Stylized convention, perhaps? Hmm. I seem to remember some awkward Obama impersonations before…
Also - Alex has some interesting numbers up about media coverage that the candidates are receiving in Japan. Check it out if you have a minute.
EDIT: Alex caught something good here. From the first comment below, “There’s no need for the caricaturist to identify Obama or Clinton, but she had to scrawl マケイン氏 next to McCain’s image, or people would have just been baffled by the old guy standing in the background.”