Never was there a lack of transparency
Quando a esposa de um líder viaja antes dele, sem agenda pública, o silêncio institucional pode parecer opacidade — mesmo quando a intenção é economia e preparação. Janja chegou ao Japão quase uma semana antes do presidente Lula, e a ausência de comunicação prévia gerou questionamentos sobre o uso de recursos públicos e o papel constitucional das primeiras-damas. O episódio revela uma tensão mais profunda: o espaço informal que cônjuges presidenciais ocupam no Estado ainda carece de forma jurídica, e o Brasil começa agora a tentar defini-lo.
- A chegada silenciosa de Janja ao Japão — sem agenda divulgada por dias — acendeu críticas sobre transparência e uso do dinheiro público.
- A primeira-dama defendeu a viagem antecipada como medida de economia, alegando ter integrado uma equipe precursora e se hospedado na residência do embaixador.
- O encontro com brasileiras residentes no Japão, adiado para o fim de semana para incluir participantes de fora de Tóquio, trouxe à tona o tema central de sua atuação pública: violência doméstica e de gênero.
- Em Osaka, Janja supervisionou as etapas finais do pavilhão brasileiro na Expo 2025, uma missão oficial que simplesmente não havia sido anunciada.
- A visita de Estado — a primeira do Brasil ao Japão desde 2019 — abriu caminho para negociações sobre a exportação de carne bovina brasileira ao mercado japonês.
- A Advocacia-Geral da União estuda formalmente o papel jurídico dos cônjuges presidenciais, buscando dar base constitucional ao que Janja já pratica.
Janja chegou ao Japão no dia 18 de março, quase uma semana antes do presidente Lula, sem nenhum compromisso público divulgado. A ausência de agenda gerou críticas imediatas. Na terça-feira, ela respondeu em entrevista à BBC: viajou com uma equipe precursora para reduzir custos com passagens e hospedagem, ficando na residência do embaixador em vez de um hotel. Não havia falta de transparência, disse ela — havia apenas um tipo diferente de viagem.
O primeiro compromisso oficial veio no sábado, 22 de março, com um encontro entre Janja e mulheres brasileiras residentes no Japão. A reunião, originalmente prevista para a semana, foi adiada para o fim de semana para permitir a participação de mulheres que viviam fora de Tóquio. O tema foi violência doméstica e de gênero — pauta que a primeira-dama tem colocado no centro de sua atuação pública.
Janja também viajou a Osaka para acompanhar as etapas finais de construção do pavilhão brasileiro na Expo Osaka 2025, a convite de Jorge Viana, presidente da Apex. A exposição está prevista para ocorrer entre 13 de abril e 13 de outubro. Essa missão também fazia parte do plano desde o início — apenas não havia sido divulgada.
Lula chegou na manhã de segunda-feira, 24 de março, e naquela noite ele e Janja foram recebidos pelo imperador Naruhito e pela imperatriz Masako. Era a primeira visita de Estado do Brasil ao Japão desde 2019. A viagem tinha peso econômico concreto: o ministro da Agricultura, Carlos Fávaro, confirmou que o Japão enviará especialistas para avaliar a sanidade do rebanho bovino brasileiro — passo preliminar para a possível abertura do mercado japonês à carne brasileira.
No plano institucional, a Advocacia-Geral da União iniciou um estudo formal sobre o papel jurídico dos cônjuges de presidentes. O objetivo é estabelecer base constitucional para que primeiras-damas e primeiros-cavalheiros possam atuar como representantes simbólicos do Estado — no Brasil e no exterior. O parecer que deverá resultar desse estudo daria forma legal ao que Janja já faz na prática.
Janja arrived in Japan on March 18, nearly a week before President Lula touched down, and for days had nothing on her public calendar. The absence of official duties sparked criticism—what was the first lady doing there? On Tuesday, she answered through the BBC: she had come with an advance team to save the government money on airfare and lodging, staying at the ambassador's residence rather than in a hotel. There was no lack of transparency, she insisted. There was simply a different kind of trip.
The first lady's journey had been handled quietly. Unlike her usual practice when fulfilling public commitments, Janja had not publicized her itinerary beforehand. According to reporting from Folha's Mônica Bergamo column, her office later explained that she had not traveled early to Japan for leisure but to execute an advance agenda—one that ultimately did not materialize as originally planned.
When the official work did arrive, it came on Saturday, March 22, in the form of a gathering with Brazilian women living in Japan. The meeting was meant to happen midweek, but because some attendees lived outside Tokyo, organizers pushed it to the weekend to ensure everyone could participate. The conversation centered on domestic and gender-based violence, issues Janja has made central to her public role.
But the first lady's time in Japan involved more than one city. She also traveled to Osaka to oversee the final stages of construction for Brazil's pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025, the international exposition scheduled to run from April 13 through October 13. The invitation came from Jorge Viana, president of Apex, Brazil's export promotion agency. This work, too, had been part of her plan from the start—just not advertised.
Lula himself arrived on the morning of Monday, March 24, and that evening, in Brasília time, he and Janja were received by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. It was Brazil's first state visit to Japan since 2019, before the pandemic shuttered such ceremonies. The last foreign leader to stand in that palace was Donald Trump, near the end of his first presidency.
The visit carried economic weight. Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro told Folha that Japan had agreed to send specialists to assess the health of Brazil's cattle herds—a preliminary step toward potentially opening Japanese markets to Brazilian beef. Trade and investment were the real business at hand.
Beyond the immediate trip, a larger question was taking shape in Brasília. The Attorney General's office had begun a formal study into the legal role of a sitting president's spouse in Brazil. The goal was to establish clear constitutional ground for presidential partners to act as symbolic representatives of the state in both domestic and international affairs. The study would eventually produce a formal legal opinion, giving future first ladies and first gentlemen a framework for the work Janja was already doing.
Citas Notables
I came with the advance team to save on airfare. I stayed at the ambassador's residence. There was never a lack of transparency.— Janja, in an interview with BBC
Japan has decided to send specialists to evaluate the situation of Brazilian cattle, the first step toward eventually opening the market to Brazilian beef.— Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why did Janja arrive so early if she had no official schedule?
Her office says she came with a precursor team—the people who set things up. It saved money on flights and hotels. But the timing made it look like she was just there on vacation.
And was she? On vacation?
Not according to her. She says the meeting with Brazilian women was always planned for that Saturday, and she was in Osaka working on the expo pavilion the whole time. It just wasn't publicized.
Why keep it quiet?
That's the question people were asking. She usually announces these things. This time she didn't, and it created the impression of something hidden.
What does the government say she was actually doing?
Two things: meeting with Brazilian residents to discuss violence against women, and overseeing construction of Brazil's pavilion for the 2025 Osaka Expo. Both legitimate work. Just not advertised beforehand.
Is there a bigger picture here?
Yes. The Attorney General is studying what a presidential spouse's role should legally be in Brazil. Right now it's murky. They're trying to formalize it so future first ladies and first gentlemen have clear authority to represent the state internationally.
So Janja is operating in a gray area?
Exactly. She's doing the work, but the legal framework doesn't quite exist yet. That study might change that.