New Delhi: Japan’s Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda recently apologised to the nation after being late for a Cabinet meeting. A video of the minister
jumping out of a taxi and sprinting into a government building has since been widely shared on social media.
The 43-year-old politician was five minutes late for the meeting held on Friday and was seen running down the stairs toward the venue, with cameras capturing the moment. In the footage, one of her aides can also be seen running alongside her.
The cameras also captured the moment when Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi entered the meeting room. Ministers present inside stood up to greet her. When the camera later panned across the room, Onoda’s seat was seen empty.
Japanese people are very serious about punctuality.
Onoda Kimi’s online conservative fan base is fawning over footage of her running as she arrived 5 minutes late to a cabinet meeting.
Some have photoshopped toast in her mouth (like an anime character). pic.twitter.com/VlBF4UfXhY— Jeffrey J. Hall 🇯🇵🇺🇸 (@mrjeffu) March 6, 2026
Social media users praise Onoda
In a public statement, Onoda said she had been “stuck in traffic due to a sudden accident and was unable to move”, and vowed to remain vigilant to better respond to unforeseen circumstances.
Many social media users praised Onoda for the gesture, saying it is becoming rare for political leaders to take responsibility in such a manner.
One user wrote, “The reaction reflects how cultural values around punctuality are often portrayed in Japan, where being on time is seen as a sign of professionalism.”
Importance of punctuality in Japanese culture
Others compared her with politicians from their own countries, saying they are “always late”. Another user wrote, “I lived in Japan, and let me tell you — their respect for time and promises is on another level.”
Some also saw the funny side of this. Some compared her to anime characters, while one user suggested that she ought to brought her “Train Delay Certificate. Else, a full morning of pay will be deducted”.
The incident highlights the importance of punctuality in Japanese culture where it is widely regarded as a sign of respect and reliability. Arriving late is often considered irresponsible behaviour.
