Yoshihide Suga's first morning as president of the Liberal Democratic Party started with his routine of a morning stroll.
Early Tuesday morning, just one day after assuming the new post, the chief cabinet secretary left the residence for lower house members in the Akasaka district of Minato Ward, Tokyo, and walked around the neighborhood for about 35 minutes. Although it is not typical for one to walk surrounded by guards in this neighborhood, a passerby said to him, "Congratulations," and Suga smiled and replied, "Thank you."
After his walk of about two kilometers, he attended a meeting at a hotel near the prime minister's official residence and headed for his last regular Cabinet meeting as chief cabinet secretary of the Shinzo Abe Cabinet.
"I walk while thinking through things. That's the most refreshing time. It's good to walk," Suga said in a program streamed online Friday by the party. Walking is not only a way to stay healthy, but also an important time for relaxation.
For the leader of a nation, maintaining health and relieving stress is key to maintaining an administration. Former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who carried out various reforms such as those of three public corporations -- Japanese National Railways, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corp. and Japan Tobacco and Salt Public Corp. -- is known for meditating at a temple in Tokyo and going to a swimming pool on weekends to refresh himself.
Abe also proactively played golf and went to a sports gym during his second administration as he had failed to deal with stress well during his first short-lived administration.
The fact that his chronic disease of ulcerative colitis worsened after February, due to a lack of relaxation while he was busy responding to the novel coronavirus, is probably evidence of the importance of stress relief.
Asked how Suga was at a Cabinet meeting after his walk Tuesday morning, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Akihiro Nishimura said at a press conference, "He had a very energetic look on his face."
After becoming prime minister on Wednesday, Suga plans to continue his walks as much as possible.
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