A member of Assembleia Metropolitana from Tóquio became the center of a debate about parliamentary decorum after making a post on her social media during a legislative session. The photograph, which aimed to show behind-the-scenes work in the plenary, captured personal items on the official table, generating a wave of mixed reactions among the electorate and political observers.
The image in question displayed, alongside the equipment provided by the government to carry out legislative activities, a personal notebook decorated with stickers of the popular character “Chiikawa”, as well as a small stuffed animal. The contrast between the formality required by the assembly environment and the playful items was the trigger for severe criticism of the legislator’s stance.
The incident occurred on February 18, when the parliamentarian, belonging to the party Tomin First in Kai, shared the record with the intention of bringing the public closer to the political routine. However, the reception did not go as planned, raising questions about how seriously the publicly funded sessions were being treated.
Negative repercussion and official response
The reaction on digital platforms was immediate, dividing opinions between those who considered the attitude harmless and those who saw it as a lack of professionalism. Diante the escalation of the controversy, the deputy issued an official statement on February 20, acknowledging that her conduct was not appropriate for the solemn environment of the legislative house.
In her statement, she admitted that she lacked the necessary discernment to separate the desire to engage on social media from the liturgy of the role. Como immediate corrective measure, announced the temporary suspension of its updates on X (formerly Twitter) and other networks, pledging to focus exclusively on its functions in budget committees and direct legislative work.
The parliamentarian explained that her original intention was to use elements of pop culture and a more accessible language to attract the interest of citizens, especially younger ones, in the issues debated in the assembly. Ela stated:
- That using the notebook and stickers was a way of maintaining your personal identity;
- That underestimated the negative interpretation that the image could generate in the official context;
- That accepts criticism about the lack of necessary tension during deliberations.
Political context and rules of conduct
The deputy, who took office after the supplementary elections in the district of Nerima in mid-2025, had been trying to establish more direct communication with her voters. The episode raised a broader debate about the limits of using personal devices and personalizing workspaces in strict government environments.
Although there are no explicit rules that prohibit the possession of decorated notebooks, the code of conduct of Assembleia Metropolitana of Tóquio values the maintenance of order and dignity of the sessions. The use of tablets and computers is permitted for consultation and work purposes, but distraction with social networks and the display of items considered childish were interpreted by many as a distraction from focus.
The party to which the parliamentarian belongs also spoke out internally, reinforcing the need for its members to maintain a standard of behavior that does not give rise to misinterpretations regarding their commitment to public agendas. The legislator reiterated that, from now on, she will focus her efforts on proving her value through results in budget debates and legislative proposals, leaving aside, for now, the digital engagement strategy based on informal behind-the-scenes.
