Obama's arrival in Japan delayed by one day

Sunday 08th November, 05:00 AM JST

TOKYO —

The United States has asked that President Barack Obama’s visit to Japan be pushed back from next Thursday to Friday, a source close to Japan’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday. Obama, who originally planned to visit Nov 12 and 13, asked for the schedule change to attend a ceremony for the victims of a recent shooting rampage at a U.S. Army base in Fort Hood, Texas, according to the source.

A meeting on Friday between Obama and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will not change, the source said. Hatoyama told reporters later in the day that the schedule change was probably inevitable under the circumstances. ‘‘I will make the utmost efforts’’ to avoid possible negative effects on the bilateral meeting from the schedule change, he said, adding that he understands that Obama means to as well.

Under the original plan, Obama was to arrive in Japan and attend a dinner on Thursday and hold the meeting with Hatoyama on Friday before leaving for Singapore to attend a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

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Latest 15 of 18 Total Comments Show All

apecNetworks at 05:28 PM JST - 7th November

There is bigger fish to fry. APEC Singapore 2009, APEC Japan 2010, APEC US 2011. What Japan and the US does during their respective year as Chair of APEC can determine much in the medium term. Impact will go to the best and brightest - as well as the most astute. Photographic memories will peer into the dustbin of history. Interesting sequence of Chairs.
imarkon at 10:09 PM JST - 7th November

If the meeting is cancelled... oh god I would laugh so hard.
Triple888 at 10:18 PM JST - 7th November

This US-Japan tit-for-tat diplomacy is funny!
Sarge at 10:28 PM JST - 7th November

I can't believe Obama's not going to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to apologize for the atomic bombings. What's up with that?
Sarge at 10:33 PM JST - 7th November

Triple - This is not "tit-for-tat" - The Ft. Hood shootings by this Muslim guy has forced the one-day delay.
Hehehohohaha at 10:44 PM JST - 7th November

I can't believe Obama's not going to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to apologize for the atomic bombings. What's up with that?

Yeah right you can't believe it.
IvanCoughalot at 12:19 AM JST - 8th November

Sarge - is there some kind of tradition of US Presidents doing that? There ought to be.
Sarge at 08:33 AM JST - 8th November

Coughalot - "Is there some kind of tradition of US Presidents ( going to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to apologize for the atomic bombings )?"

No. Is there some kind of tradition of Japanese prime ministers going to Pearl Harbor to apologize for that?
NeoJamal at 08:48 AM JST - 8th November

[quote]Coughalot - "Is there some kind of tradition of US Presidents ( going to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to apologize for the atomic bombings )?"

No. Is there some kind of tradition of Japanese prime ministers going to Pearl Harbor to apologize for that?[/quote]

Exactly, it is the sovereign right of all nations to rain massacre from the skies.
the_sicilian at 10:30 AM JST - 8th November

Obama is doing the right thing, for once. Now he can double that if he tells Hatoyama that Futenma relocation goes as planned or there will be a lot of changes in the Japan-US security agreement. Not necessarily in Japan's best interest.
hworta269 at 11:46 AM JST - 8th November

Obama will screw Japan if they dont do exactly s he wants. Ironically in Obama's eyes Japan's greatest sin is supporting America though.
captainjohann at 02:47 PM JST - 8th November

Hi all, It is important for America and Japan to stay together whatever the problems.The most foolish part is LACK OF COMMUNICATION between the leaders of two of the richest democracies.the gainer is MILITARILY RESURGENT CHINA which calls it SOFT POWER
timeon at 06:06 PM JST - 8th November

I passed near Ochanomizu station today, and there was a scary black van gathering and a guy with very loud speakers shouting angrily anti-American and anti-Obama stuff. everybody was trying to ignore them, but it was scary, and the language they used was really aggressive.
ashika1009 at 07:51 PM JST - 8th November

I think the anti-Obama stuff is okay, timeon.

I need to contact these scary black van folks and see if they really hate America or Obama or both. We may agree to disagree and I will shout along with them.
ashika1009 at 07:55 PM JST - 8th November

Sarge at 10:28 PM JST - 7th November

I can't believe Obama's not going to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to apologize for the atomic bombings. What's up with that?

You got it, Sarge! Go figure! The apologizer in chef--I mean chief--is just not apologizing enough.

I am so confused!