Tokyo, April 24,2014, 09:00 am – 2:00 pm
The motorcade pulled away from the president's hotel at 9:17 am headed for the Imperial Palace.
The motorcade entered the Imperial Palace through an ornate gate and moved across an asphalt courtyard, traversing a bridge across a moat and climbing a hill past Imperial Guards in dress uniforms.
It pulled up at the welcoming ceremony.
Inside the palace, which was quiet and calm,are long corridors with a thick taupe carpet, with Japanese style shades on the windows. Climbing towards the meeting room where President Obama met the Emperor, we passed a vast sea mural with waves breaking across dark rocks.
The meeting was held in an elegant room which was empty but for a few ornate chairs along the side and three chairs set up for the Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and Emperor and the president and two for translators set slightly behind.
One knock on the door heralded the arrival of the Emperor and Empress and the President, who walked slowly into the room behind a courtier.
They sat down together and the president, leaning forward in his chair, began the conversation.
"I hope you and your family are well," he said, before pausing for translation.
"I have very fond memories of our last meeting four years ago.
"We are pleased to welcome you," the Emperor said as his wife looked on, smiling.
The president told the Emperor that the last time they met he did not have any gray hairs.
"You have a very hard job," the Emperor replied.
As the pool moved out, the president was talking about the work early in his presidency to stabilize the world financial system.
In the corner of the room was a table with what appeared to be visitor's books and something that looked like a picture covered by piece of felt that could have been a gift. There was also an elegant gray vase on the table as well as a picture of the Emperor and Empress. (10:00 am)
At 10.18 am, the band of the Imperial Guard struck up the Sousa march "Stars and Stripes Forever" and the motorcade swept away from the palace. The Emperor and Empress, who was wearing a pale pink dress and a matching hat, having walked the president to his car, stood and watched.
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(Pre-set pool report by Elliot Waldman, Tokyo Broadcasting System))
The president's arrival ceremony took place at the East Courtyard of the imperial palace. Standing at attention were an honor guard and military band, both from the Japanese Land Self Defense Force. On the far side of the courtyard were two groups of schoolchildren: 114 5th-and-6th-graders from a local public school (Chiyoda Kuritsu Fujimi Elementary School, for those interested) and 49 others invited from the US embassy.
At 9:12 AM, three black cars pulled up to the entrance of the reception hall of the imperial palace. The emperor and empress got out of the first car, bowed and waved to the press corps, and went inside (their residence is located in a different section of the palace grounds). Soon after, a group of Japanese cabinet ministers and other high-ranking officials lined up along the red carpet.
At 9:22, the motorcade pulled into the East Courtyard of the palace. The president emerged from The Beast and walked up to greet the emperor and empress, who by this point had come out again. The president bowed slightly and shook hands with both royal highnesses. Words were exchanged but the pool was at too great a distance to hear, except when the president said "so nice to see you again" to the empress.
The president was then led up to a slightly elevated stage to stand with the two highnesses while the band played both countries' national anthems. Standing nearby were Ambassador Kennedy, Prime Minister Abe and his wife, members of the royal family, and other Bigwigs.
Obama was then led on a walk to inspect the troops, proceeding in a triangular pattern and stopping briefly to acknowledge the commander at the center of the formation. He then walked along the line of Japanese VIPs, shaking hands and exchanging greetings and pleasantries as the band played ceremonial music. The emperor and empress followed behind him, as did Ambassador Kennedy at a slightly greater distance. The president's manner was relaxed and friendly, at times even jocular.
When he was done exchanging greetings, he was led into the reception hall followed by administration officials, among them Amb. Kennedy, Jay Carney, Susan Rice, Michael Froman, Danny Russel, and Evan Medeiros. The entire ceremony lasted approximately 20 minutes.
The pre-set pool stuck around for the president's exit after their meeting. He emerged at 10:13 and thanked the emperor and empress. Pool was at a slight distance but could make him out saying "so grateful for your hospitality. It was a wonderful visit. Thank you very much, see you soon."
The motorcade began rolling to it's next destination at 10:18, while the band played “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
(End of Pre-set pool report)
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The motorcade speeded through empty streets and a tunnel towards the next destination, the Akasaka Palace and the bilat with Prime Minister Abe.
The motorcade pulled up at the palace, a curved stone building in spacious grounds somewhat reminiscent of a French chateau, at 10.30 am.
The delegations faced one another on a long table under large, sparkling chandeliers in a high ceilinged room decorated with gold leaf.
The US delegation included, sitting next to the president and wearing a blue dress, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, Ben Rhodes, Caroline Atkinson, Mike Froman, Susan Rice and Danny Russel.
Abe spoke first.
"I would like to welcome President Obama as our state guest," he said and expressed "heartfelt gratitude for the assistance of the United States in the aftermath of the great East Japan earthquake."
"More than 20,000 service members of the US armed forces participated in the operation," he said, adding that the Japanese people were encouraged by the US help: "I am truly grateful for that."
"Japan has been walking on the path of peace based on its peaceful orientation in a consistent manner " for the past 70 years,"
He said Japan and the US share fundamental values of freedom, democracy and human rights and added the alliance with the US was "indispensible and irreplaceable" as a foundation for peace across the Asia Pacific region.
He said Obama's visit was a testament to the rebalancing policy.
"This greatly contributes to regional peace and prosperity and Japan strongly supports and also certainly welcomes this."
"My administration intends to continue to contribute to regional peace and prosperity more pro-actively than ever."
"At this meeting, I look forward to having exchanges with you on how the alliance should look in the future."
Obama thanked Abe for Japan's "incredibly gracious hospitality."
He said the "US-Japan alliance is the foundation not only for our security in the Asia Pacific region but also for the region as a whole."
"We are looking at a whole range of issues that are challenging at this time, including the threats posed by North Korea and the nuclearization that has been taking place in that country.
"We represent two of the three largest economies in the world. We have the opportunity by working to help shape an open and innovative and dynamic economy throughout the Asia Pacific region."
"Our shared democratic values mean that we have to work together in multilateral settings, to deal with regional hot spots around the globe but also to try to make sure we are creating a strong set of rules that govern the international order."
"Our friendship and alliance, I am confident, will continue for generations to come."
Following his press conference with Prime Minister Abe, the President met with three relatives of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. The President was moved by their tragic experiences and reaffirmed our commitment to work with Japan to address North Korea's deplorable treatment of its own people and resolve the issue of abductees.
The motorcade is back at the hotel at 2.00 pm
Reported by Stephen Collinson, AFP as the White House Pool
