By Kwan Weng Kin, Japan Correspondent

TOKYO: The Japanese media has got into the habit of scrutinising every little remark by Prime Minister Taro Aso for possible offensiveness, a practice that would not do any good to the Japanese leader's declining popularity.

On Monday, during an Upper House parliamentary committee session, he said in reference to his regular morning walks: 'There was a time when I was often mistaken for an elderly prowler during my walks.'

The comment had reporters wondering if it could be interpreted as a slur on the nation's elderly.

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