A sudden resignation by Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe (for apparent stress-related health reasons,) has led to a fast and furious campaign to find his replacement. Front runner, Yasuo Fukuda, has been stumping for the job and appears likely to win but at what cost?

In a recent appearance, Fukuda inadvertently revealed Japan’s dire lack of competent audio technicians when, absent a stereo microphone or a line splitter, he was forced to speak through a pair of microphones that had been crudely taped together.

Executives at Sony could not be reached for comment.