Abe insisted on accompanying Obama

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was determined to accompany U.S. President Barack Obama on his visit to Hiroshima.

The U.S. government began making unofficial arrangements with the Japanese government in late April with an eye on the president’s visit to Hiroshima, recognizing positive responses in the United States.

A Japanese Foreign Ministry official said, “The visit was almost fixed in late April.”

The last challenge was whether Abe could accompany Obama to Hiroshima. The only option for the visit was the afternoon of May 27 immediately after the Ise-Shima summit meeting of the Group of Seven major powers, due to the president’s schedule. However, Abe was set to attend a press conference as the chairman of the summit at the time.

Nonetheless, Abe insisted on accompanying Obama, saying to his aides, “It’s natural for me to go along with President Obama.” There was even a risk of negative effects on the Abe administration, and obviously it would not boost his administration if the U.S. president visited there alone.

According to sources, the Japanese government told the U.S. side behind closed doors, “The chairman’s press conference can be moved forward a little.” The Japanese and U.S. governments made arrangements to delay the president’s visit to the evening after confirming the time of sunset to be 7 p.m. or later in Hiroshima.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy released a statement on Tuesday night proudly saying, “The president’s decision to visit Hiroshima with Prime Minister Abe is a tribute to the spirit of friendship and the enduring alliance between the United States and Japan ... I am honored to be the U.S. Ambassador at this time, and look forward to this historic moment.

(THE JAPAN NEWS)