Mr. Ishihara, meet Mr. Freud

Tokyo Mayor Shintaro Ishihara, Japan's most quotable politician, continues to delight crowds the world over.

Still downplaying his 2004 claim it's impossible to count in French, the 75-year old Mayor recently told the Agence France-Presse, "I love France. I once had a French girlfriend. She gave me a pistol as a souvenir but now it's too old to be of any use." Ahem.

To demonstrate, Ishihara tackled the young reporter, placed the pistol in question to her head, and pulled hard on the trigger three times. As promised, the Mayor's weapon failed to discharge. He then performed a marvelous series of handsprings into the studio audience and led them all in a buoyant rendition of "La Vie En Rose."