Monday in Washington, November 5, 2018

GLOBAL ILLICIT ALCOHOL TRADE. 11/5, Breakfast, 9:00-11:00am. Sponsor: Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT). Speakers: Jeffrey Hardy, Director-General, Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade; Monica Ramirez, Global Director, Regulatory & Public Policy, Anheuser-Busch InBev; Juan Ricardo Ortega, Operations Principal Advisor, Inter-American Development Bank; Moderator: Ana Rold, Editor-in-Chief, Diplomatic Courier.

IMITATION AND ITS DISCONTENTS: DEMOCRATIC MALAISE IN POST-COMMUNIST EUROPE. 11/5, Noon-2:00pm. Sponsor: International Forum for Democratic Studies, National Endowment for Democracy. Speaker: Ivan Krastev, Chairman, Centre for Liberal Strategies (Sofia), Permanent Fellow, Institute for Human Sciences (Vienna); Moderator: Marc F. Plattner, Journal of Democracy. 

BEYOND LIBERAL ORDER: STATES, SOCIETIES AND MARKETS IN THE GLOBAL INDIAN OCEAN. 11/5, 12:30-1:30pm. Sponsor: Walsh School of Foreign Service, GTU. Speakers: Dr. Harry Verhoeven, Professor, School of Foreign Service in Qatar, GTU.

DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN: LEADERSHIP IN TURBULENT TIMES. 11/5, Lunch, 12:30pm. Sponsor: National Press Club. Speaker: Doris Kearns Goodwin, author.

click to purchase

IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE-BASED SCIENCE POLICY. 11/5, 1:00-2:00pm. Sponsor: Institute for International Science and Technology Policy, GW. Speakers: Author, Dr. Albert H. Teich, Research Professor of Science, Technology, and International Affairs, Elliot School, GW; Dr. Jeff Alexander, Senior Manager of Innovation Policy, Research Triangle Institute (RTI).

VALEDICTORY REMARKS & RECEPTION WITH NEW ZEALAND AMBASSADOR TIM GROSER. 11/5, 4:00-6:00pm, Washington, DC. Sponsor: Washington International Trade Assn. Speaker: Amb. Tim Groser, New Zealand. fee.

click to order

INVISIBLE SLAVES: THE VICTIMS AND PERPETRATORS OF MODERN SLAVERY. 11/5, 4:30-5:30pm. Sponsor: Institute of World Politics (IWP). Speaker: Author, W. Kurt Hauser.

INVESTING GLOBALLY IN PEACE, SECURITY, AND STABILITY. 11/5, 6:00-8:00pm. Sponsor: Women’s Foreign Policy Group (WFPG). Speaker: H.E. Kåre R. Aas, Ambassador of Norway to the US, Former Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway.

Prime Minister of Japan’s Schedule March 23-29, 2015

Monday, March 23, 2015

AM
12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
08:00 At private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo (no morning visitors)
09:37 Depart from private residence
09:51 Arrive at office
09:52 Interview open to all media: When asked the response to “former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan-yew’s death”, Mr. Abe answers, “He is a great Asian leader who laid the foundation for the prosperity of contemporary Singapore. I’d like to express my sympathy with the people of Singapore.”
09:53 Interview ends
10:42 Meet with resident Ambassador to United States Sasae Kenichiro and Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki Akitaka
11:07 End meeting with Mr. Sasae and Mr. Saiki
11:08 Meet with Vice-Minister of Cabinet Office Matsuyama Kenji
11:26 End meeting with Mr. Matsuyama
11:27 Meeting with Minister of State for Disaster Management Yamatani Eriko
11:48 End meeting with Ms. Yamatani
11:49 Conference with President of Bank of Japan Kuroda Haruhiko commences

PM
01:01 Conference with Mr. Kuroda ends
01:36 Receive a courtesy call from a Delegation of Members of the Japan-Korea and Korea-Japan Eminent Persons Group
02:03 Courtesy call ends
02:07 Meet with Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishida Fumio, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)’s Administrative Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Sugiyama Shinsuke, and Director-General of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Ihara Junichi
02:38 End meeting with Mr. Kishida, Mr. Sugiyama, and Mr. Ihara
02:39 Meet with MOFA’s Mr. Saiki and Director-General of International Legal Affairs Bureau Akiba Takeo
02:56 End meeting with Mr. Saiki and Mr. Akiba
03:15 Speak with President of Tokyo Metro Co. Oku Yoshimitsu
03:26 Finish speaking with Mr. Oku
04:06 Receive the findings of the Ruling Coalition on the Development of Security Legislation from LDP Vice-President Komura Masahiko and colleagues
04:29 Finishing receiving the findings
04:52 Depart from office
04:54 Arrive at Diet
04:55 Enter LDP Secretary-General’s Conference Room
04:56 Endorse candidate for Sagamihara City (Kanagawa Prefecture) mayoral election. Commemorative photo session
04:57 Photo session ends
04:58 Leave room
04:59 Enter LDP President’s Office
05:01 LDP Officers Meeting
05:17 Meeting ends
05:18 Speak with Mr. Komura and Special Advisor to President of LDP Hagiuda Koichi
05:21 Finish speaking with Mr. Komura and Mr. Hagiuda
05:22 Leave room
05:23 Enter State Ministers’ Room
05:24 Speak with Chairman of LDP Election Strategy Committee Motegi Toshimitsu
05:31 Finish speaking with Mr. Motegi
05:32 Leave room
05:33 Depart from Diet
05:34 Arrive at office
05:42 Ministerial Council on Monthly Economic Report and Other Relative Issues meeting
05:56 Council meeting ends
06:00 Reception for President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo. Commemorative photo session 

06:01 Commemorative photo session ends
06:02 Ceremony by the guard of honor
06:07 Ceremony ends
06:09 Summit Conference with President Joko Widodo
06:53 Summit Conference ends
06:56 Signing Ceremony, Joint Press Release
07:11 Press release ends
07:12 Depart from office
07:13 Arrive at official residence. Dinner meeting hosted by Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and his wife
08:35 See off President Joko
08:36 Finish seeing off President Joko

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

AM
12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
08:00 At official residence (no morning visitors)
08:06 Depart from official residence
08:07 Arrive at office
08:12 Cabinet Meeting begins
08:33 Cabinet Meeting ends
09:26 Meet with Administrative Vice-Minister of Defense Nishi Masanori
09:59 End meeting with Mr. Nishi
10:35 Meet with Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura Yasuhisa
11:04 End meeting with Mr. Kawamura
11:05 Interview with British newspaper Financial Times
11:55 Interview ends

PM
01:29 Meet with Chairman of LDP Headquarters for Regional Diplomatic and Economic Partnership Eto Seishiro, Chairman of LDP Global Information Study Committee Harada Yoshiaki and colleagues
02:00 End meeting with Mr. Eto and Mr. Harada
02:04 Depart from office
02:14 Arrive at Embassy of Singapore in Roppongi, Tokyo
02:15 Register condolence call for the late Lee Kuan Yew, former Prime Minister of Singapore
02:16 Finish condolence call
02:17 Interview open to all media: when asked “what’s your feeling after registering condolence call?” Mr. Abe answers, “ I think (the late Prime minister Lee) is an outstanding Asian leader. His achievements will be remembered and I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences.”
02:18 Interview ends
02:23 Depart from Embassy of Singapore
02:31 Arrive at Diet
02:32 Enter Lower House Doctor’s Office. Receive a medical eye examination
02:34 Leave office
02:35 Depart from Diet
02:37 Arrive at office
02:40 Meet with Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki Akitaka
03:10 End meeting with Mr. Saiki
03:20 Meet with LDP Lower House member Miyazaki Kensuke and others
03:40 End meeting with Mr. Miyazaki and others
03:58 Meet with Director of NSC Yachi Shotaro, MOFA’s Administrative Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Sugiyama Shinsuke and Vice-Minister of Finance for International Affairs Yamasaki Tatsuo
04:15 End meeting with Mr. Yachi, Mr. Sugiyama, and Mr. Yamasaki
04:31 Mr. Yachi, Director of Cabinet Intelligence Kitamura Shigeru, and Director of Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center Shimohira Koji enter
04:41 Mr. Yachi and Mr. Shimohira both leave
04:55 Mr. Kitamura leaves
06:02 Reception for Prime Minister of New Zealand John Phillip Key. Commemorative photo session
06:03 Finish commemorative photo session
06:04 Attend a ceremony by the guard of honor
06:09 Ceremony ends
06:11 Japan-New Zealand Summit Meeting with Prime Minister Key
07:01 Summit Meeting ends
07:05 Joint Press Release
07:16 Press Release ends
07:17 Depart from office
07:18 Arrive at official residence. Dinner meeting hosted by Prime Minister Abe Shinzo
08:33 See off Prime Minister Key

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

AM
12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
08:00 At official residence (no morning visitors)
09:30 Depart from official residence
09:33 Arrive at LDP Party Headquarters
09:35 Film video message for nationwide local elections
09:51 Finish filming
09:53 Depart from LDP Party Headquarters
09:56 Arrive at office
09:57 Interview open to all media: when asked “regarding the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525, do you have any latest information about the Japanese citizens on the plane and how will the government respond?” Mr. Abe answers, “now we are trying to confirm the safety of the Japanese. I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences to people who died.”
09:58 Interview ends
11:08 Meet with Chairman of LDP General Council Nikai Toshihiro
11:29 End meeting with Mr. Nikai
11:30 Speak with the chairman of Parliamentary Association for Development of Kabuki Nakasone Hirofumi and others
11:42 Finish speaking with Mr. Nakasone and others
11:43 Meet with Kabuki actor Nakamura Ganjiro. Former President of the Upper House Ooji Chikage also attends
11:58 End meeting with Mr. Nakamura

PM
02:06 Meet with Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)’s Vice-Minister Minagawa Yoshitsugu and Director General for Secretariatʼs Policy Matters Arakawa Takashi
02:34 End meeting with Mr. Minagawa and Mr. Arakawa
02:59 Meet with LDP Secretary-General Tanigaki Sadakazu and Secretary-General of New Komeito Inoue Yoshihisa
03:35 End meeting with Mr. Tanigaki and Mr. Inoue
03:36 Meet with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nakayama Yasuhide and Director-General of MOFA’s Consular Affairs Bureau Miyoshi Mari
03:58 End meeting with Mr. Nakayama and Ms. Miyoshi
04:02 Meet with Mr. Tanigaki
04:29 End meeting with Mr. Tanigaki
04:35 Meet with President of Asian Development Bank Nakao Takehiko. Vice-Minister of Finance for International Affairs Yamasaki Tatsuo also attends
05:05 End meeting with Mr. Nakao
05:16 Meeting of Headquarters for Healthcare and Medical Strategy Promotion
05:52 Meeting ends
06:09 Receive a courtesy call from General Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States of America. Ministry of Defense (MOD)’s Chief of Staff for Joint Staff Council Kawano Katsutoshi also attends
06:30 Courtesy call ends
06:31 Depart from office
06:39 Arrive at Palace Hotel Tokyo in Marunouchi, Tokyo
06:46 Attend the presentation ceremony of the Healthy Society Award, deliver address
06:54 Depart from hotel
07:03 Arrive at official residence


Thursday, March 26, 2015

AM
12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
08:00 At official residence (no morning visitors)
09:50 Depart from official residence
09:51 Arrive at office
10:24 Meet with Director of Cabinet Intelligence Kitamura Shigeru
10:51 End meeting with Mr. Kitamura
11:08 Meet with U.S. Columbia University professor Jeffrey Sachs. Director General of International Cooperation Bureau of the MOFA Ishikane Kimihiro also attends
11:38 End meeting with Mr. Sachs
11:39 Meet with President of Japan-Korea Parliamentarians’ Union Nukaga Fukushiro
11:55 End meeting with Mr. Nukaga

PM
12:56 Depart from office
12:57 Arrive at official residence. Lunch meeting with Director of LDP Youth Division Kihara Minoru and colleagues. Special Advisor to President of LDP Hagiuda Koichi also attends
01:36 Depart from official residence
01:37 Arrive at office
01:38 Speak with Bank of Japan Policy Board member Harada Yutaka
01:43 Finish speaking with Mr. Harada
02:30 Speak with Cabinet Office’s Director-General for Policies on Cohesive Society Hihara Hirofumi
02:35 Finish speaking with Mr. Hihara
03:35 Receive a request at the Prime Minister's Office from the Parliamentary League for the Creation of a New World-Renowned National Archives
03:50 Finish receiving the request
04:16 Interview with American newspaper Washington Post
05:10 Interview ends
05:11 Receive a courtesy call at the Prime Minister's Office from representatives of the Boy Scouts who received the Fuji Award
05:25 Courtesy call ends
05:52 National Security Council meeting. Chairwoman of National Public Safety Commission Yamatani Eriko also attends
06:23 Council meeting ends
06:24 Meet with Director of National Security Council Yachi Shotaro and Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki Akitaka
06:53 End meeting with Mr. Yachi and Mr. Saiki
06:59 Depart from office
07:00 Arrive at official residence. Dinner meeting with Chief Representative of New Komeito Yamaguchi Natsuo, Deputy Chief Representative of New Komeito Kitagawa Kazuo, Chairman of New Komeito Diet Affairs Committee Oguchi Yoshinori, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ohta Akihiro, and others. Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide also attends
08:22 Depart from official residence
08:39 Arrive at private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo

Friday, March 27, 2015

AM
12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
07:07 Depart from private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo
07:19 Arrive at office
07:24 Meet with Deputy Chef Cabinet Secretary Seko Hiroshige
07:48 End meeting with Mr. Seko
07:50 Cabinet Meeting begins
08:14 Cabinet Meeting ends
08:15 Meet with Mr. Seko
08:41 End meeting with Mr. Seko
08:53 Depart from office
08:54 Arrive at Diet
08:56 Enter Upper House Committee Room No. 1
08:58 Speak with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Aso Taro
09:00 Finish speaking with Mr. Aso
09:01 Upper House Budget Committee opens
11:53 Upper House Budget Committee recess
11:54 Leave Upper House Committee Room No. 1
11:56 Depart from Diet
11:57 Arrive at office

PM
12:04 Speak with Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Takaichi Sanae
12:10 Finish speaking with Ms. Takaichi
12:53 Depart from office
12:55 Arrive at Diet
12:56 Enter Upper House Committee Room No. 1
12:57 Speak with Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide
12:58 Finish speaking with Mr. Suga
01:00 Upper House Budget Committee reopens
05:14 Upper House Budget Committee adjourns, leave room
05:16 Depart from Diet
05:18 Arrive at office
05:19 Commemorative photo session with members of Iwakuni Corporation Association of Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. LDP Lower House member Kishi Nobuo also attends
05:22 Photo session ends
05:59 Reception for Prime Minister of the Portugal Republic Pedro Passos Coelho. Commemorative photo session
06:00 Commemorative photo session ends
06:01 Attend a ceremony by the guard of honor
06:07 Ceremony ends
06:09 Japan-Portugal Summit Meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho
07:05 Summit Meeting ends
08:00 Signing Ceremony, Joint Press Release
08:26 Ceremony and Press Release end
08:27 Depart from office
08:28 Arrive at official residence. Dinner meeting hosted by Prime Minister Abe Shinzo
08:55 See off Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho
08:56 Finish seeing off Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho

Prime Minister of Japan's Schedule July 7-13, 2014

Australian War Memorial

Monday, July 7, 2014

AM
(local time in New Zealand)
Reception ceremony at Governor-General’s Government House in Auckland, New Zealand
Summit Conference with Prime Minister of New Zealand John Phillip Key
Joint Press Conference
Perform courtesy call to New Zealand’s national Rugby team All Blacks members at Villa Maria winery
Lunch meeting hosted by Mr. Key

PM
(local time in New Zealand and Australia)
Perform courtesy call to New Zealand Labour Party leader David Richard Cunliffe
Depart from Auckland International Airport on personal government aircraft
Arrive at Christchurch International Airport
Offer flowers at Canterbury Television building accident site
View Christchurch Transitional Cathedral
Depart from Christchurch International Airport
Arrive at Canberra International Airport in Canberra, Australia
Interview with Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) at Hyatt Hotel Canberra

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

AM
(local time in Australia)
View Australian War Memorial Hall in Canberra, Australia, and offer flowers at Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier
Reception ceremony for Mr. Abe at Parliament House, informal talk with President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, deliver address SPEECH

PM
(local time in Australia)
Lunch meeting with Japan-Australia Business Cooperation Committee members at National Gallery of Australia
Summit Conference with Prime Minister Tony Abbot at Parliament House, signing ceremony, and Joint Press Conference. Informal talk with all Australian cabinet ministers
View Australian National University
Reception with authorized business personnel at Parliament House
Perform courtesy call to Australian Labour Party leader Bill Shorten
Dinner party hosted by Mr. Abbot
Stay the night at Hyatt Hotel Canberra

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

AM
(local time in Australia)
Depart from Canberra International Airport with Mr. Abbot in personal Australian government aircraft

PM
(local time in Australia)
Arrive at airport near mine in the Pilbara
View mine with Mr. Abbot
Depart from an airport near mine
Arrive at Perth International Airport
Perform courtesy call to Premier of West Australia Colin Barnett
Reception dinner for Mr. Abe
Spent the night at Hyatt Regency Perth

Thursday, July 10, 2014
AM
(local time in Australia)
Depart from Perth International Airport

PM
(local time in Papua New Guinea)
Arrive at Jackson International Airport at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, reception event for Mr. Abe
Perform courtesy call to Governor-General Michael Ogio and his wife at Government House
Summit Conference with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill at National Parliament House, joint press conference
Banquet hosted by Mr. O’Neill
Spend the night at Airways Hotel

Friday, July 11, 2014

AM
(local time in Papua New Guinea)
Attend inaugural meeting of Joint Committee on Japan-Papua New Guinea Investment at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Depart from Jackson International Airport on Coast Guard aircraft
Arrive at Wewak Airport

Offer flowers and pray at New Guinea Monument to the Japanese War Dead at Wewak
Interview open to all media

PM
(local time in Papua New Guinea)
Lunch meeting hosted by former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Sir Michael Somare
Attend unveiling ceremony for plaque to the war dead at a Japanese shrine on Cape Wom, the site

by PNG Piksa

 of the Japanese Army surrender and near a 

burial site of Japanese. See HERE for incredible pictures by PNG Piksa of the visit.

Informal talk with Kawabata Shizuka, who is involved in recovery of deceased persons’ remains and organizing resting place
Depart from Wewak Airport
Arrive at Jackson International Airport
Informal talk at Gateway Hotel with press groups accompanying Mr. Abe’s travels

Campaign marked by cannibalism 

Spend the night at Airways Hotel

Saturday, July 12, 2014

AM
(local time in Papua New Guinea)
Depart on personal government aircraft from Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

PM
(Japan time)
03:14 Finish tour to three countries in Oceania, arriving at Haneda Airport in personal government aircraft
03:31 Depart from airport


03:57 Arrive at private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo
Sunday, July 13, 2014

AM
12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
09:14 Meet with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management Nishimura Yasuhiko and Director of National Security Council Yachi Shotaro at private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo
09:39 End meeting with Mr. Nishimura and Mr. Yachi
09:40 Depart from private residence
10:00 Arrive at Hotel Grand Pacific Le Daiba in Daiba, Tokyo. Give lecture at International Conference for Women in Business in banquet hall Palais Royal
10:32 Depart from hotel
10:47 Arrive at official residence
10:48 Interview open to all media
10:49 Interview ends
11:15 Interview with Mainichi Shimbun
11:45 Interview ends

PM
Stay at official residence throughout afternoon (no visitors)
06:30 Speak with Director of Cabinet Intelligence Kitamura Shigeru
06:40 Finish speaking with Mr. Kitamura

Prime Minister of Japan's Schedule June 30-July 6, 2014

Monday, June 30, 2014

AM
12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
08:00 At private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo (no morning visitors)
09:29 Depart from private residence
09:47 Arrive at U.S. Embassy in Akasaka, Tokyo. Give condolence call in honor of the late Howard Baker, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy also attends
10:02 Depart from U.S. Embassy
10:05 Arrive at office
10:11 National Security Council (NSC) meeting with Minister in charge of the Abduction Issue Furuya Keiji
10:27 Meeting ends
11:13 Meet with Director-General of LDP Election Strategy Committee Kawamura Takeo
11:35 End meeting with Mr. Kawamura

PM
12:26 Depart from office
12:27 Arrive at Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Meeting Hall. Receive dental examination at dentist’s office inside meeting hall
12:47 Depart from Lower House 1st Committee Members’ Meeting Hall
12:49 Arrive at office
01:45 Depart from office
01:56 Arrive at event-hosting facility complex Ginza Blossom in Ginza, Tokyo. Attend Decentralization Reform Symposium in the hall there, deliver address
02:08 Depart from Ginza Blossom
02:20 Arrive at office
03:03 Receive courtesy call from Japan’s badminton team of the Badminton Men’s World Team Championships, winners of the Thomas Cup, and team captain Hayakawa Kenichi. Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shimomura Hakubun also attends
03:14 Courtesy call ends
03:21 Meet with LDP Lower House member Akiba Kenya and Japanese Ambassador for 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction Suganuma Kenichi
03:36 End meeting with Mr. Akiba and Mr. Suganuma
05:10 Meet with Chairman of LDP National Vision Project Headquarters Yamaguchi Shunichi
05:29 End meeting with Mr. Yamaguchi
06:04 Summit Conference with Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay
06:42 Summit Conference ends
06:45 Joint press conference with Mr. Tobgay
06:56 Joint press conference ends
06:57 Depart from office
06:58 Arrive at official residence, dinner meeting hosted by Prime Minister Abe Shinzo
08:14 See off Mr. Tobgay
08:17 Finish seeing off Mr. Tobgay

Tuesday, July 1, 2014
AM12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
08:00 At official residence (no morning visitors)
09:46 Depart from official residence
09:47 Arrive at office
10:02 Cabinet Meeting begins
10:16 Cabinet Meeting ends
10:50 Summit Conference with Prime Minister of Macedonia Nikola Gruevski
11:25 Summit Conference ends
11:31 Awards Ceremony for Contributors to Public Safety
11:47 Ceremony ends

PM
01:43 Speak with National Security Council Director Yachi Shotaro and Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki Akitaka
01:53 Finish speaking with Mr. Yachi and Mr. Saiki
01:54 Meet with Mr. Saiki and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)’s Director-General of Intelligence and Analysis Service Matsutomi Shigeo
02:30 End meeting with Mr. Saiki and Mr. Matsutomi
02:33 Director of Cabinet Intelligence Kitamura Shigeru, Mr. Yachi, and Director of Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center Shimohira Koji enter
02:44 Mr. Yachi and Mr. Shimohira leave
03:02 Mr. Kitamura leaves
03:16 Meet with Chairman Emeritus of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group Leo Melamed
03:31 End meeting with Mr. Melamed
04:12 Ruling Party-Leader Coalition with Chief Representative of New Komeito Yamaguchi Natsuo. LDP Vice-President Komura Masahiko, LDP Secretary-General Ishiba Shigeru, Deputy Chief Representative of New Komeito Kitagawa Kazuo, Secretary-General of New Komeito Inoue Yoshihisa, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide also attend
04:26 Ruling Party-Leader Coalition ends
04:37 Nine Ministers’ Group of NSC meeting
04:48 Meeting ends
04:57 Extraordinary Session Cabinet Meeting
05:20 Cabinet Meeting ends
06:00 Press conference
06:25 Press conference ends
06:46 Filming for Nippon TV news program
07:04 Finish filming
07:08 Depart from office
07:09 Arrive at official residence, dinner meeting with Governor of Kyoto Prefecture Yamada Keiji, President of Keio University Seike Atsushi, Representative Director of Obayashi Corporation Obayashi Takeo, President of Sapporo Holdings Kamijyo Tsutomu, President of Kobe Steel, Ltd. Kawasaki Hiroya, and colleagues
08:56 Everyone leaves

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

AM
12:00 At official residence (no visitors)
06:10 Depart from official residence
06:22 Arrive at JR Tokyo Station
06:32 Depart from JR Tokyo Station on Hayabusa no. 1
08:45 Arrive at JR Morioka Station, reception by Governor of Iwate Prefecture Tasso Takuya
08:50 Depart from the station, Minister for Reconstruction Nemoto Takumi and Parliamentary Secretary for Reconstruction and Sakai Manabu accompany
10:05 Arrive and go shopping at roadside station Tono Kaze no Oka in Tono City, Iwate Prefecture
10:14 Depart from Tono Kaze no Oka
11:22 Arrive at emergency housing in Otsuchi-cho, Iwate Prefecture, and inspect condition of the establishment. Mayor of Otsuchi-cho Ikarigawa Yutaka and Lower House member Hashimoto Hidenori accompany
11:35 Depart from emergency housing
11:39 Arrive at Japanese restaurant Kappo Iwato in Otsuchi-cho, have lunch

PM
12:09 Depart from Kappo Iwato
12:13 Arrive at Ogakuchi Nursery, commemorative photo session with pupils
12:26 Depart from Ogakuchi Nursery
12:34 Arrive at Otsuchi-cho Reconstruction Quilt Project [大槌復興刺し子プロジェクト] office, try traditional handicraft Sashiko, and buy goods
12:58 Depart from project office
01:05 Arrive at seafood company Ito Shoten’s refrigeration and processing plant Otsuchi in Otsuchi-cho, sample cooking using wakame seaweed
01:26 Interview open to all media: When asked “How should reconstruction be approached?” Mr. Abe answers “I want to start a new fund structure to support resuscitation of livelihood [in the area].”
01:30 Interview ends
01:32 Depart from Otsuchi refrigeration and processing plant
04:30 Arrive at JR Morioka Station
04:31 Meet with Mr. Nemoto and colleagues in VIP room at station
04:44 End meeting with Mr. Nemoto
04:50 Depart from station on Hayabusa no. 26
07:07 Arrive at JR Tokyo Station
07:10 Depart from station
07:24 Arrive at official residence
07:25 Meet with Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki Akitaka and MOFA’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director-General Ihara Junichi
07:46 End meeting with Mr. Saiki and Mt. Ihara
07:48 Depart from official residence
07:58 Arrive at Japanese restaurant Arisugawa Shimizu in Minami-Azabu, Tokyo. Dinner with Lower House Speaker Ibuki Bunmei and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Takesaki Hironobu
09:08 Depart from restaurant
09:26 Arrive at private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo

Thursday, July 3, 2014

AM
12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
08:00 At private residence (no morning visitors)
09:09 Depart from private residence
09:24 Arrive at office
09:57 Headquarters for the Abduction Issue meeting
10:17 Meeting ends
10:20 Nine Ministers’ Group of NSC meeting. Minister of Justice Tanigaki Sadakazu and Minster of Health, Labour and Welfare Tamura Norihisa also attend
10:34 Meeting ends
10:49 Interview open to all media: When asked “What was decided in the NSC meeting?” Mr. Abe answers “Concerning North Korea, we have decided to rescind some of the sanctions we put in place.”
10:50 Interview ends
11:11 Speak with Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hayashi Yoshimasa
11:21 Finish speaking with Mr. Hayashi
11:22 Meet with Director of Cabinet Intelligence Kitamura Shigeru and Bureau of Defense Policy Director-General Tokuchi Hideshi
11:50 End meeting with Mr. Kitamura and Mr. Tokuchi

PM
12:03 Lunch with National Defense Academy of Japan Alumni Association President Nagaiwa Toshimichi and colleagues
01:09 Finish lunch
01:10 Meet with LDP Vice-President Komura Masahiko
01:30 End meeting with Mr. Komura
01:31 Speak with Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Kimura Taro
01:38 Finish speaking with Mr. Kimura
01:39 Speak with Minister in charge of Ocean Policy and Territorial Issues Yamamoto Ichita
01:50 Finish speaking with Mr. Yamamoto
02:01 Education Rebuilding Implementation Council meeting
02:08 Meeting ends
02:21 Meet with Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ohta Akihiro
03:06 End meeting with Mr. Ohta
03:10 Speak with President of Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association Inoue Yoshihisa
03:15 Finish speaking with Mr. Inoue
03:37 Meet with Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishida Fumio
03:59 End meeting with Mr. Kishida
04:04 Depart from office
04:05 Enter Lower House 1st Diet Members’ Meeting Hall. Receive dental examination at dentist’s office inside meeting hall
04:45 Depart from meeting hall
04:46 Arrive at office
05:14 Meet with Chairperson of LDP Policy Bureau Takaichi Sanae
05:32 End meeting with Ms. Takaichi
05:33 Meet with LDP Secretary-General Ishiba Shigeru
06:23 End meeting with Mr. Ishiba
06:28 Depart from office
06:42 Arrive at Japanese restaurant Botan in Shibaura, Tokyo. Have dinner with Vice-President of Imagica Robot Holdings and colleagues
08:44 Depart from restaurant
08:59 Arrive at private residence

Friday, July 4, 2014

AM
12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
08:00 At private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo (no morning visitors)
09:25 Depart from private residence
09:41 Arrive at office
10:03 Cabinet Meeting begins
10:17 Cabinet Meeting ends
10:21 Headquarters for Ocean Policy meeting
10:29 Meeting ends
10:30 Deliver notices of personnel change to Advisor to Federation of Economic Organizations [Keidanren] Nakamura Yoshio and Vice-Minister of Finance for International Affairs Furusawa Mitsuhiro
10:37 Film video message aimed at industrial organizations
10:44 Finish filming
10:55 Meet with Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki Akitaka and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Nagamine Yasumasa
11:17 End meeting with Mr. Saiki and Mr. Nagamine
11:42 Speak with incoming Commissioner of Financial Services Agency Hosomizu Kiyoshi and outgoing Commissioner Hatanaka Ryutaro
11:45 Finish speaking with Mr. Hosomizu and Mr. Hatanaka
11:46 Speak with incoming Vice-Minister of Finance Kagawa Shunsuke and outgoing Vice Minister of Finance Kinoshita Yasushi
11:51 Finish speaking with Mr. Kagawa and Mr. Kinoshita
11:58 Meet with Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security Chairman Yanai Shunji and Acting Chair Kitaoka Shinichi. NSC Director Yachi Shotaro also attends

PM
01:08 End meeting with Mr. Yanai and Mr. Kitaoka
01:20 Speak with President of Japan Medical Association Yokokura Yoshitake
01:34 Finish speaking with Mr. Yokokura
01:35 Meet with Board Chairman of Science and Technology in Society forum Omi Koji
01:53 End meeting with Mr. Omi
01:54 Meet with Representative of LDP Osaka 19th Electoral District Branch Office Tanigawa Tom
02:10 End meeting with Mr. Tanigawa
02:12 Meet with Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs Sugiyama Shinsuke and Nagamine Yasumasa; Ministry of Finance’s Yamasaki Tatsuo; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries‘ Vice-Minister for International Affairs Harihara Hisao; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry‘s Vice-Minister for International Affairs Ishiguro Norihiko; and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s Director-General for International Affairs Inaba Kazuo. Director-General of Personnel Affairs Bureau Kato Katsunobu and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Eto Seiichi also attend
03:09 End meeting with Mr. Sugiyama, Mr. Nagamine, Mr. Yamasaki, Mr. Harihara, Mr. Ishiguro, and Mr. Inaba
03:10 Meet with MOFA’s Director-General of Foreign Policy Bureau Hiramatsu Kenji
03:39 End meeting with Mr. Hiramatsu
03:44 Receive written request from Parliamentary League for Early Repatriation of Japanese Citizens Kidnapped by North Korea, National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea, Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, and Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea
03:58 Finish request reception
04:01 Speak with LDP Director of Special Committee on North Korean Abduction Issue and Related Matters Yamatani Eriko, Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishida Fumio, and Minister in charge of the Abduction Issue Furuya Keiji
04:13 Finish speaking with Ms. Yamanaki, Mr. Kishida, and Mr. Furuya
04:14 Speak with Minister of Defense Onodera Itsunori and Mr. Hiramatsu
04:27 Finish speaking with Mr. Onodera and Mr. Hiramatsu
04:44 Receive report from International disaster relief unit for Malaysian plane search upon its return to Japan
04:56 Report concludes
04:58 Meet with Director of Cabinet Intelligence Kitamura Shigeru
05:28 End meeting with Mr. Kitamura
05:42 Phone conference with Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel
06:02 Phone conference ends
06:26 Depart from office
06:27 Arrive at official residence
06:30 Interview with NHK
06:54 Interview ends
06:55 Dinner meeting with TV Asahi’s President and CEO Hayakawa Hiroshi, Representative Director Yoshida Shinichi, and President of Gentosha Kenjo Toru
08:45 Dinner meeting ends
08:46 Depart from official residence
09:04 Arrive at private residence

Saturday, July 5, 2014

AM
12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
08:00 At private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo (no morning visitors)
10:26 Depart from private residence
10:56 Arrive a Kabukiza Theatre in Ginza, Tokyo. Enjoy watching “Shofuda Tsukikon Genkusazuri” [正札附根元草摺] and “Natsumatsuri Naniwa Kagami” [夏祭浪花鑑] with Mr. Abe’s wife Akie and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy

PM
03:33 Depart from Kabukiza
03:52 Arrive at salon HAIR GUEST in Shibuya, Tokyo, for hair cut
05:54 Depart from HAIR GUEST
06:04 Arrive at official residence
06:30 Interview with Yomiuri Shimbun
07:02 Finish interview
07:04 Depart from official residence
07:18 Arrive at private residence

Sunday, July 6, 2014

AM

12:00 At private residence (no visitors)
08:01 Depart from private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo
08:29 Arrive at Haneda Airport
08:37 Interview open to all media: When asked “Will you name a Minister in charge of Security Legislation?” Mr. Abe answers “It is a significant [policy] shift, so I do want to put a cabinet minister in charge of it.”
08:40 Interview ends
09:08 Depart fro Haneda Airport with wife Akie toward New Zealand on a trip bound for Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea

PM
Arrive at Auckland International Airport, New Zealand
Arrive at Skycity Grand Hotel

Monday in Washington April 7, 2014

MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS & HUMAN RIGHTS: ISSUES, OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES. 4/7, 9:30am–5:30pm, Washington, DC. Sponsor: Human Rights Institute of Georgetown University Law Center. Multiple Speakers. Webcast.

A SMALL STATE AT THE BIG TABLE; NEW ZEALAND, MULTILATERALISM AND THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL. 4/7, Noon-2:00pm. Sponsor: Center for Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies. Speaker: Kim McLay, Former Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand.

ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS. 4/7, 12:30-2:00pm. Sponsor: SAIS, Johns Hopkins University. Speaker: Kathleen Domonique, Environmental Economist, OECD.

PAKISTANI JOURNALISTS PERSPECTIVES ON POST-US AFGHANISTAN: IMPLICATIONS FOR PAKISTAN. 4/7, 5:00-6:30pm. Sponsor: East-West Center (EWC). Speakers: Khalid Kheshgi, Staff Reporter, The News International, Stringer, Mashaal Radio, Peshawar; Riaz Burki, News Reporter, Foreign Affairs and Parliament, Pakistan Television, Islamabad; Jeeyand Sajidi, Assistant Editor, Daily Intekhab, Quetta, Balochistan; Marvin Weinbaum, Executive Director, Center for Pakistan Studies, Middle East Institute.

GLOBAL POINTS OF VIEW: HOW INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES SHAPE US COVERAGE. 4/7, 7:00pm. Sponsor: National Press Club. Speakers: Hideomi Kinoshita, Washington Bureau Chief, Kyodo News; Narayan Lakshman, Correspondent, The Hindu; Kasia Kimasinska, Economics Reporter, Bloomberg News; Lisa Millar, North American Bureau Chief, Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Prime Minister of Japan's Schedule October 1-11, 2013

October 1, 2013 (Tue)

AM

08:00 At private residence in Tomigaya (No visitors)

09:00 Depart from residence

09:15 Arrive at LDP Headquarters

09:24 Recommended Testimony Approval for Mayoral Candidate of Kawasaki

09:28 Certificate of Appreciation presented to Masuda Toshiya , President of Seed Company “Atriya;” Nikai Toshiro of Land Surveying is also in attendance

09:23 Executive Committee meeting

09:57 Meeting with Kato Katsunobu , member of the House of Representatives;  Seko Hiroshige,

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary; Ishiba Shigeru, Secretary General of the LDP; and Kawamura Takeo, Chairman of Sentai.

10:10 Departure from LDP Headquarters

10:12 Arrive at office

10:13 Meeting with Thomas J. Donahue from the US Chamber of Commerce

11:05 Industrial Competitiveness Council

11:40 Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy

PM

01:01 Government and ruling party meeting

01:23 Meeting with veteran journalist Kimura Taro 

02:17 Meeting with President of Japan Foundation Ando Hiroyasu 

02:41 Depart from office

02:53 Arrive at Nihon Keizai Shinbun’s Tokyo Headquarter’s in Otemachi for the Japan Foundation Symposium on "Asia in Harmony: New Horizons for Cultural Exchange."

03:13 Depart

03:22 Arrive at office

05:01 Cabinet meeting

05:17 Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro, Finance Minster Amari Akira, Minister of Public Management, Home Affair and Telecommunications ShindoYoshitaka  and Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Science Hakubun Shimomura also in attendance

06:00 Press Conference

06:54 Interview with TV Tokyo

08:02 Interview with TBS

08:35 Arrive at official residence

08:48 Arrive at NHK

09:00 Appear on news program

09:20 Depart from NHK

09:44 Arrive at Nippon TV

10:00 Appear on BS NTV news program

10:37 Depart from Nippon TV

10:58 Arrive at private residence

October 2, 2013 (Wed)

AM

08:00 At private residence in Tomigaya (no visitors)

09:16 Depart from private residence

09:36 Arrive at office

09:37 Meeting with Yamamoto Kaguta, Minister of Northern Okinawa

09:47 Meeting with Defense Minister Onodera Itsunori 

10:39 Video recording for the Minamata Convention for Mercury

11:48 Depart from office

11:59 Arrive at JR Tokyo Station

PM

12:00 Depart from station

01:03 Meeting with Furuya Keiji , Abduction Issue Minister

01:51 Arrive at JR Nagoya Station

01:52 Depart from JR Nagoya station

01:53 Arrive at Kintetsu Nagoya Station

02:10 Depart from Kintetsu Nagoya Station via Limited Express train

03:33 Arrive at Kintetsu Ujiyamada Station to be greeted by Governor Suzuki Hidetaki

03:37 Depart from train station

03:51 Arrive at Ise Shrine for a meal

05:20 Depart from Ise Shrine

05:42 Arrive at Miyamae for meeting with Hakubun Shimomura of Education, Culture, Sports and Science

09:24 Depart from Miyamae

09:45 Arrive at Jingu Tsukasa Agency

10:00 Departure

11:33 Arrive at Nagoya Marriot Associate Hotel Nagoya (No visitors)

October 3, 2013 (Thu)

AM

07:17 Depart from the Marriot

07:18 Drive to JR Nagoya

07:24 Arrive at JR Nagoya

08:07 Meet with Eto Seichii, Assistant to the Prime Minister

09:03 Arrive in Tokyo

09:08 Depart from JR Tokyo

09:30 Arrive at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine Hall in Yoyogi Kamizono district

10:00 Meeting with Ibuki Bunmei and Yamazaki Masaaki speakers from both houses

Veterans Ceremony

10:20 Attend The Ceremony to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Law for Special Aid to the Wounded and Sick Retired Soldiers and the Ceremony to Commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Japanese Disabled Veterans Association

10:57 Depart from the event

11:12 Arrive at office

11:25 Meeting with NagamineYasumasa, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs; Ishiguro Norihiko, Deputy Director for Economy, Trade and Industry; Miyauchi Yasutaka, Director of Customs; and Haribara Toshiro, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Deputy Director

11:37 Meeting with Ishiba Shigeru, LDP Secretary General for the Prime Minister

12:38 Meeting with Kimura Taro, Assistant to the Prime Minister

02:04 Meeting with Sugiyama Susumu , General Affairs Deputy Director; Yamazaki Tatsuo from Ministery of Finance; and Shigeharu Kato, Officer for the Ministry of Overseas Education

02:45 Meeting with Akitaka Saiki, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ihara Junichi, Director of the Asia Pacific Bureau

04:36 Meeting with Us Secretary of State John Kerry, and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. Kishida Fumio, Minister of Foreign affairs and Onodera Itsunori, Minister of Defense are also in attendance

05:48 Meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy

06:43 Cooperation document exchange ceremony of Japan and Spain followed by a joint press conference

07:05 Depart from office

07:06 Arrive at official residence for a dinner party

08:42 Dinner ends

08:43 See off Spanish Prime Minister

00:00 No visitors

October 4, 2013 (Fri)

AM

08:00 At official residence in Tomigaya

08:53 Depart from residence

09:07 Arrive at Headquarters on Creating Dynamism through Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Industries and Local Communities

09:32 Cabinet Meeting

09:47 Meeting with Inada Tomomi, Administrative Reform Minister

10:07 Meeting with Tamura Norihisa, Minister Director of Health Labor and Welfare

10:12 Meeting with Cabinet Secretariat Shotaro Yachi

10:30 Meeting with Murakami Seiichiro, Vice Chairman for the LDP Investigation on the Subcommittee on the Fukushima Nuclear Accident Investigation

10:51 Meeting with Amari Akira; Akitaka Saiki, Permanent Secretary; Sugiyama Susumu, Foreign Affairs Deputy Director; and Ihara Junichi, Asia Pacific Director

11:18 Meeting with Christopher A. Viehbacher, CEO of pharmaceutical company Sanofi

11:38 Shimomura Hakubun of Education, Sports and Science enters

11:52 Depart from office

11:53 Arrive at Tokyo Cabinet office

11:54 Signboard hanging for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic games

11:57 Depart

11:59 Arrive at office

PM

12:11 Government and ruling party liaison meeting

12:35 Meeting with New Komeito party leader Yamaguchi Natsuo; Cabinet Chief SugaYoshihide is also in attendance

01:10 Murai Yoshihiro, Governor of Miyagi, LDP House of Representatives member Ito Shintaro, Katsunobu Kato, Cabinet Deputy Secretary all enter

01:30 Sasae Kenichiro, Japanese Ambassador to the US also in attendance

01:41 Meeting with Sugiyama Shinsuke , Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Toyohisa Kozuki , General Director of European Affairs also in attendance.

02:01 Meeting with Sugiyama Yasumasa and Nagamine Anesei, Deputy Ministers of foreign affairs; Kozuki, General Director of the European Affairs; Bando Kumiko, Education, Director-General of Higher Education Bureau; and Director of the Ministry of Finance Ishiguro Norihiko all in attendance

02:11 Kozuki and Bando leave

02:14 Ihara Junichi, Asia Pacific Director enters

02:34 Yamazaki leaves

02:48 Ihara leaves

02:54 Everyone leaves

03:24 Toyoda Shoichiro, Honorary Chairman of NPO “ITS Japan” leaves

04:29 Interview with British newspaper, Financial Times with David Pilling and Jonathan Soble

05:31 Meeting with Suga Yoshihide, Kato Koichi, Seko Hiroshige and Sugita Kazuhiro, Vice Chief Cabinet Secretary

05:36 Kitamura Shigeru, Cabinet Information Officer enters

06:05 Courtesy call from Chairman Wiesel of the Okinawa Institute for Science and Technology Council. Nakai Masahiro, Governor of Okinawa present.

07:00 Depart from office

07:04 Arrive at ANA Intercontinental Hotel in Akasaka for dinner with Takenaka Heizo, Economics Professor from Keio University

09:00 Depart from the hotel

09:14 Arrive at private residence

00:00 No visitors

October 5, 2013 (Sat)

AM

08:00 At private residence in Tomigaya (no visitors)

PM

02:21 Depart from private residence

02:39 Arrive at Wako Hall in Tokyo’s Ginza District for calligraphy presentation "Yahagi Harue"

03:07 Depart from show

03:30 Arrive at JR Tokyo Station

03:40 Meeting with 3:40 pm, Yamamoto Kazuta Science and Technology Minister

05:51 Arrive at JR Kyoto Station

05:54 Depart from JR Kyoto

06:07 Arrive at Japanese restaurant, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, "Okazaki Tsuruya" for dinner with Kashiwabara Yasuo, Bank of Kyoto Chairman; Wacoal Holdings President Yoshikata Tsukamoto

08:36 Depart from restaurant

08:51 Arrive at the Grand Prince Hotel in Kyoto Ward

00:00 No visitors

October 6, 2013 (Sun)

AM

07:53 At Grand Prince Hotel in Kyoto

07:55 Arrive at Kyoto International Conference Center for the STS Conference and be greeted by Yamada Keiji, Governor of Kyoto Prefecture and Kadokawa Daisuku, Mayor of Kyoto

07:57 Start breakfast meeting and the "International Forum on the future of humanity and science and technology.” Omi Koji, Former Finance Minister is also present

09:13 Breakfast ends

09:37 Meet with Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Arkady Dvorkovich

10:19 Attend opening ceremony of the forum

10:21 Depart

11:55 Arrive at Kansai Airport

Put another shrimp on the barbie, Secretary Clinton to visit Australia

The State Department announced on Wednesday, that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will travel to the Western Pacific January 11-19, 2010.

Secretary Clinton will deliver a major Asia policy speech in Honolulu, Hawaii at the East West Center on January 12th focused on Asia-Pacific multilateral engagement. She will also be consulting with the Pacific Command and hold a ministerial meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on the relocation of the Futenma Air Station.

From Hawaii the Secretary will travel to Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Australia, returning to the U.S. on the 19th.

Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell briefed the foreign press on the trip Thursday. He noted that Washington "want[s] the Japanese Government to support strongly a robust military and particularly Marine commitment on Okinawa and elsewhere, at the same time, we also recognize that this is a broader relationship, that so many things are in play, and I would just point out over the course of the last couple of months, several things have occurred that underscore the importance of Japan as a partner to the United States."

For an official State Department summary of Mr. Campbell's briefing see HERE.

The evening edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Campbell's statements a bit more stridently. Their Washington correspondent wrote:

Campbell pointed out that "the security alliance is the core of the Japan-U.S. relationship." He said: "The U.S. would like the Japanese government to provide strong support for robust troops in Okinawa, particularly for the presence of the Marines," demanding progress in the issue of the relocation of the USFJ's Futenma Air Station. He added, "Security issues are important in an Asia characterized by complexity and undergoing major changes. The U.S. wants a very clear declaration (from the Japanese side) of its intent to continue close cooperation with the U.S." He indicated that the U.S. will confirm this in the talks on deepening the alliance.

Campbell also stated: "The Japan-U.S. alliance provides the basis for economic development in Asia. Today, when the U.S. talks with its Asian friends, the first topic that comes up is: 'We want Japan and the U.S. to maintain a strong relationship'." He disclosed that Asian countries have expressed their concern about the present state of the Japan-U.S. relationship to the U.S. directly.