This Monday, history seems to repeat itself. This time it is no longer about the British royal family but the Japanese government. The publication of a photo of its new members created strong reactions on the web. Indeed, many Internet users noted their slovenly outfit, their shirts sticking out from their suits. This Monday, the photo was published on Ishiba’s website. However, no shirts sticking out of the suits are visible in the photo. Internet users quickly noted the change.
Government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi finally spoke out, admitting : “It has undergone minor modifications. Commemorative photos such as those taken during the formation of cabinets or other group photos taken during official events at the Prime Minister’s Office will remain memories for the participants for a very long time. So I understand that slight changes have been made in the past, and not just for this photo.”
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Beyond the retouching of the photo, Internet users criticized the lack of diversity of it. In fact, out of 19 members, there are only two women who do not have major roles.
Even if these modifications may seem futile since they only concern a clothing aspect, they show to what extent official images can sometimes be modified. The question of their reliability then comes into play.
