Japan’s Cyber Security Minister Doesn’t Know How To Use A Computer

Japan’s recently appointed cyber security minister, who is also the Olympics minister, said that he has never used computer in his life, according to Reuters. This came as a surprise since he is responsible for Japan’s cyber security preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Yoshitaka Sakurada, 68, has never held a cabinet position during his 18 years in parliament. Sakurada made the confession after he was asked by an opposition lawmaker if he was computer literate.

Sakurada replied "I've been independent since I was 25 and have always directed my staff and secretaries to do that kind of thing. I've never used a computer."

Sakurada also appeared confused when asked about whether USB drives were in use at Japanese nuclear facilities.

His comments baffled the opposition lawmakers. "It's unbelievable that someone who has not touched computers is responsible for cyber security policies," said an opposition lawmaker.

His comments also drew criticisms online. One user joked that maybe Mr. Sakurada was simply engaged in his own way of cyber security.

“If a hacker targets this Minister Sakurada, they wouldn’t be able to steal any information. Indeed it might be the strongest kind of security!”

When a lawmaker asked how someone without computer skills could be in charge of cyber security, Sakurada said the policy was decided broadly by the members of his office and the government, and he was confident there would be no problems.

This is not Sakurada’s only blunder. When addressing another parliamentary member, the minister made a mistake by saying the 2020 Olympics would cost Japan 1,500 yen (RM55.37) instead of 150 billion yen (RM5.537 billion).

Sakurada also blamed his mistakes on the opposition for not submitting questions in advance, even though they had, and during the news conference for the Olympics he simply answered: “I don’t know”.