Disgraced Japanese leader calls Americans ‘simple’

TOKYO – Ichiro Ozawa, who quit as the No. 2 official in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan in June after coming under fire for campaign finance scandals, said Wednesday that while he likes Americans, they are “simple.”

Ozawa, who is considering whether to challenge Prime Minister Naoto Kan in next month’s election for party leader, praised American democracy in a speech to DPJ lawmakers Wednesday. He said the election of Barack Obama as the first African-American president was a historic event.

“It’s very admirable that people exercised their freedom of choice and free will in such a time of crisis,” he said. “I like Americans but they’re somewhat like single-celled organisms.”

Ozawa said he “dislikes the British” for conduct he considers hypocritical. At the same time, he said he “sometimes asks Americans why they’re so simple and if they shouldn’t learn from the British.”

The 68-year-old Ozawa stepped down as DPJ secretary-general in June along with then-Premier Yukio Hatoyama as the party’s popularity plunged due to a dispute over U.S. troops in Japan and funding scandals. Ozawa is still under investigation in connection with the indictment of three former aides for violating campaign finance laws.

Ozawa didn’t say whether he’ll run in the Sept. 14 race to head the DPJ, which would also make him prime minister. He’ll decide in “a day or two” whether to challenge Kan.