Americans 'simpleminded'

Kyodo News

The United States is a great democracy but its people are simpleminded somewhat, Democratic Party of Japan kingpin Ichiro Ozawa said Wednesday.

During a political seminar he organized in Tokyo, he said, "I like Americans, but they are somewhat unicellular."

The 68-year-old reputed backroom dealer also touched on the election of Barack Obama as the first black president of the U.S., something he once thought "impossible."

"I don't think Americans are smart," he said, but added, "I highly evaluate democracy (in the U.S.) and the fact that the choices made by its people in crises have been put into practice."