Sorry for the delay, I wasn't here for a few days.  Here's the full text of 
the article from the New York Times.

Scott Kniffin

Japan Lawmakers Scolded for Reading Comics

May 17, 2004
  By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 9:29 a.m. ET

TOKYO (AP) -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
scolded rookie lawmakers Thursday for reading comic books
and talking on their cell phones during legislative
sessions, according to a newspaper report.

The national Asahi newspaper said Koizumi scolded 30
first-term lawmakers from his Liberal Democratic Party
during a luncheon.

``Don't send e-mail on your cell phones or read comic books
in Parliament while in session,'' Koizumi was quoted as
saying.

``You can be seen very clearly from the prime minister's
seat. You should really stop that -- it's disgraceful.''

Koizumi's office said he hosted a luncheon Thursday, but it
could not immediately confirm his comments.

Comic books, often with adult themes, are common reading
material for middle-aged men. Japan's younger generation
also is hooked on using cell phones to send e-mail.

The country's youngest lawmakers sit in the front of
Parliament, while their elders sit in the back of the
chamber.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Japan-Scolded-Lawmakers.html?ex=1085980438&ei=1&en=26aa466c8bc87795