
While adults had a hard time containing their laughter upon seeing a Japanese politician sobbing, a child recently provided a more endearing reaction to his tears.
For anyone who has forgotten this viral moment, in July of last year, former Hyogo Prefectural Assemblyman Ryutaro Nonomura was trying explain to the media the 3 million yen (US $30,000) he had claimed in travel expenses for 2013-14. His interview quickly turned into a sobbing mess, and eventually his public display of emotion spread across the globe. Few adults could keep themselves from making laughing at his antics, and even the famous anime Gintama opened their newest season with a parody of the politician.
It’s been more than 510 days since the incident, but Japanese news outlets are now revisiting the story. A small toddler was in the room during one such news segment and responded the way a kind and compassionate person should in that situation: She tried to wipe away his tears!
https://twitter.com/NTXJPofficial/status/670038942134091776This toddler still has that child-like innocence we cherish — and she’s clearly a better person than most of us! This little angel is certainly one of the very few who offered support to the ex-assemblyman, and it’s absolutely precious how she takes a tissue right to his eyes and tries to stop his tears. We can only hope this kid will hold onto that compassion for others as she grows up.
Though we expect that in a few election cycles, she’ll have lost all hope in politics like the rest of us.
Source: Hamsoku
Top Image: YouTube/BBC News

Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan offers special sakura picnics at Reserve Roastery Tokyo beside Meguro River
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Is Japan’s Crab-shaped Cup Ramen Timer worth the hype?
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan offers special sakura picnics at Reserve Roastery Tokyo beside Meguro River
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Is Japan’s Crab-shaped Cup Ramen Timer worth the hype?
Tokyo has a cafe lounge that’s for negative people only
Ayato Nikukyu, one of Japan’s hottest cosplayers, visits RocketNews24 for an exclusive interview
Mister Donut teams up with Sumikko Gurashi for the first time for adorable goods and donuts
Chinese artisans use traditional foot-powered lathe to craft beautiful wooden bowls【Video】
This Valentine’s Day tell your man how you truly feel — tell him with chocolate-covered KFC
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Japanese government planning higher ticket prices for foreign tourists at Tokyo National Museum
Starbucks Japan releases a new Cream Puff Frappuccino for a limited time
Is Tokyo Station’s startlingly expensive wagyu bento boxed lunch worth its high price?[Taste test]
One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean
Silicone testicle covers banned from Japanese sauna following cups being left behind and on shelves
Studio Ghibli now sells Ursula’s backpack from Kiki’s Delivery Service at its anime shop in Japan
Live-action One Piece’s Luffy teaches Sesame Street’s Elmo a Japanese word for friendship[Video]
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Tokyo has a cafe lounge that’s for negative people only
Ayato Nikukyu, one of Japan’s hottest cosplayers, visits RocketNews24 for an exclusive interview
Mister Donut teams up with Sumikko Gurashi for the first time for adorable goods and donuts
Chinese artisans use traditional foot-powered lathe to craft beautiful wooden bowls【Video】
This Valentine’s Day tell your man how you truly feel — tell him with chocolate-covered KFC
Hana Komon: Japan’s beautiful, samurai-style floral birthday crests
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
What is Teru Teru Bozu? The tragic history behind the Japanese fine weather doll
Is “The Most Annoying but Most Delicious” ramen from 7-Eleven truly the most delicious?
Is this Tokyo government office still one of the best places in the city for a curry rice lunch?
Make a Burger King Whopper at home with new CooKING Burger @Home delivery set
Does Tokyo’s “breakup shrine” really have the power to end relationships?
Japanese government planning higher ticket prices for foreign tourists at Tokyo National Museum