President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spent a few moments at the Lincoln Memorial today, ahead of the pomp and circumstance that starts tomorrow with an official visit and state dinner.
Obama and Abe took their time at the ornate marble memorial near the National Mall, first chatting in front of the Gettysburg Address etched into the wall on Lincoln's right and at Lincoln's second inaugural address etched into the wall to his left.
They walked up the steps by themselves, stopping at the top to gaze back at the Washington Monument .
After the tour, the two men walked together - alone - slowly down the steps, their silhouettes captured by cameras.
The White House called the unannounced visit an opportunity before the formal events “to spend time together one-on-one.” It noted they toured a place of historical significance for the United States, as this month marks both the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, as well as President Lincoln’s death.
Abe arrives at the White House on Tuesday for talks with Obama that are likely to include Japan’s new defense guidelines, as well as Obama’s efforts to strike a trade deal that would send more cars and more farm goods to Japan.
Abe and his wife, Akie, will attend the Obama’s eighth state dinner at the White House Tuesday night and will be toasted with Dassai 23, Asahi Shuzo’s signature sake. White House chefs will be assisted by Masaharu Morimoto, a Japanese chef best known from the television show, Iron Chef.
The White House says the menu for the dinner “fuses traditional American cuisine with a Japanese influence.” Guests will dine on a salad of sashimi salad, soup that includes bok choy from the First Lady’s garden, paired with bamboo shoots from Hawaii - the president’s home state.
The decor will include cherry blossoms and will feature the first use of the new china that Michelle Obama has called “Kailusa Blue,” - a nod to the “waters off the president’s home state.”
After dinner, guests will be entertained by some of the cast of the film adaptation of the musical, Jersey Boys, which the White House says recently won several top honors in Japan for best foreign language film.
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