Bush greets Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi
By: Elvis Australia - June 30, 2006
Source: Elvis World Japan

President Bush welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the White House this morning in an elaborate South Lawn ceremony.
Bush talked of the close ties between the two countries that were at war just over 60 years ago, and thanked Koizumi for his willingness to back him on Iraq and other issues.

But quickly getting to the real purpose of the Japanese leader's state visit, Bush added: 'Officially, he’s here to see the President ? but I know the highlight of his visit will be paying his respects to the King', referring to their trip to Graceland on Friday.

Koizumi spoke of his deep friendship with and trust of the President in his remarks.

Two hours later, in a joint press conference in the East Room, the president and Bush both referred repeatedly to the Graceland visit. In his opening remarks, Bush noted that he had given Koizumi an Elvis-themed gift.

The exchange went like this:

Bush: 'And, plus, as you all know, it's become quite well-known that we're going to visit Graceland tomorrow. He's an Elvis fan. Laura and I gave him a jukebox as a gift, and I can't -- what was the first song you put on? It wasn't Hound Dog,' it was --

Koizumi: 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You'.

Bush: 'See, he loves Elvis, and I couldn't think of a better way to honor my friend (than) by going to Graceland. But it also sends a signal about how close our relationship is'.

Taking his first question from the Associated Press's Terry Hunt, Bush told the reporter he was reminded of 'one of Elvis' greatest songs, Don't Be Cruel.' So keep that in mind, Hunt, when you ask your question."

After taking some questions, including two from Japanese reporters traveling with him, Koizumi ended the press conference with another Elvisism.

'Thank you very much, American people, for Love Me Tender.'

The only president on record as having visited prior to, during or after a presidency is Jimmy Carter.

'Elvis theme' for Air Force One today

In theory, the Elvis pilgrimage is something of a parting gift for Junichiro Koizumi, who steps down in the fall. Koizumi is such a big Presley fan that he selected his own favorite tracks for a Japanese CD. For his part, President Bush cares so little about music that he entrusts his iPod selections to his old friend, music junkie Mark McKinnon.

But even more important than the journey to Memphis is what the trip says about Bush’s exceptionally personal form of diplomacy. Bush’s foreign policy aides insist that the idea for a Graceland visit came from the president himself, not from Koizumi. “About a year ago, the president started saying to us as staff, ‘I would like to take him to Graceland,’ and we all thought he might be joking,” said one senior administration official, who insisted on anonymity in talking about Bush’s foreign-policy discussions. “But as he repeated it several times to us, we realized he indeed thought it was a great thing to do.”

The result is an Elvis-themed day on Friday, complete with Elvis movies on Air Force One and a strategic opportunity for Koizumi to go karaoke. “I imagine that Koizumi may pick up a mike somewhere along the way,” the senior Bush aide said. “He does sing Elvis songs.”


Of course the White House would like you to know that it’s not all play. There will be extensive talks about North Korea, Iran and Iraq. And even the fun stuff can have a greater meaning: in Memphis, the two leaders will eat some of the city’s finest barbecue. Given the Japanese ban on U.S. beef because of concerns about mad-cow disease, the mere sight of Koizumi eating American meat is a symbolic stamp of approval.

As trivial as it sounds, there are certain strengths to this kind of one-on-one diplomacy. There’s little doubt among Japan analysts that the close relationship between Bush and Koizumi has been critical in improving relations between the United States and Japan. After the economic rivalries of the 1980s and the Japanese stagnation of the 1990s, the Koizumi-Bush era looks like a golden one. Both the pres and the PM mentioned Elvis in their joint press conference yesterday.

Thank you for the article LUCKYLMP003. I think Graceland will be a fun place today.

Thanks for posting the article! I am so excited for pics!