No trash

This is all just for show, a transparent attempt by Japan to obtain an approving pat on the head from the US, right? All these "security measures" without so much as a credible threat. These measures aren't taken anywhere else, least of all in Obama's own neighborhood where real terrorists have attacked and anti-government lunatics make threats all the time...

Long golden week holidays for municipal workers.

Yeah, thin layer of plastic over the top. That will deter someone from using it!

So should we just deliver all our trash to the US embassy ? We do pay our taxes and garbage disposal is a public funded system!

People can complain about excess security...until the unthinkable happens. Then people complain about lack of security after the fact.

Obama is such a popular guy that 16,000 Japanese police have been detailed to protect him and I'll bet he will bring an equal number of his own.

This is an indication of the results of the wonderful peacekeeping work and international understanding being created by the United States (sarcasm).

Combinibento-

I was living in Burbank when Obama visited the Tonight show after taking office in his first election. You'd be surprised at all the security measures that were taken there, though not as publicized as these I can tell you that covering up trash cans is nothing in comparison. Just be glad they're not actively scanning all phone calls, texts, and social networking post within a 15 mile radius of the President's location.

Sure this is all mostly for show but regardless it still plays a role believe it or not.

They do the same thing in New York, with the massive security force and the missing garbage cans, every time Obama visits, and he visits a lot. Doing the same thing in Tokyo is not excessive - saying it's unnecessary because Tokyo is a safe city is incredibly naive.

Obama is coming to town ... buy fly-paper.

If someone was serious about putting something in them do you think plastic over the top would stop anyone? Would have been too hard to remove them?

I guess Japanese officials believe Obama is a "high priority" target. I don't see why.

What are the homeless people going to do now for used newspapers and cans??

It's amazing how fast Tokyo can be transformed into a police state...

NOW where are Tokyoites going to dispose of their trash!?

So much of security in Japan for Obama, are we missing something? was it same for Clinton and Bush?

Obama is such a popular guy that 16,000 Japanese police have been detailed to protect him and I'll bet he will bring an equal number of his own.

He doesn't have probably that many, but he has enough secret service, highly trained undercover special forces and I'm not sure if he brought the BEAST with him, but all preliminary precautions are taken to ensure his safety, as to the exact number, that remains classified.

This is an indication of the results of the wonderful peacekeeping work and international understanding being created by the United States.

Utter and complete, nonsense! Any leader is a potential target to a possible terror attack and it's more about your idiot leftists or right-wingers or out of control jihadists. These people posses the biggest threat.

What is stopping a terrorist from putting a bomb in there anyway? "Ok fellows, there is paper on this trash can. It is secured, move on to the next sector. "

It's amazing how fast Tokyo can be transformed into a police state...

Agreed, I've never seen more Police hanging around a place than in Tokyo, one can only imagine what they're capable of

I think the BEAST goes everywhere the president will when he needs to be driven. MARINE ONE may go instead or also. The POTUS security is quite impressive and effective. While any US president is a target for some radicals. Obama made few waves internationally. Ripples yes.

Despite the Secret Service shenanigans in in recent news they are a bunch of men and women away from family and friends and are permitted to "socialize". They should keep themselves out of negative news but they are human in a stressful job. Just watch the Reagan assassination attempt a couple times. Those guys were selfless and intentional human shields Ready to take the bullet or whatever came next. They didn't know then like we know now. One shooter with a small caliber. AMAZING! Give them credit!

I just wish there were many more trash cans in the stations to be covered up. It's a pain not having them. Parks here are useless, too, with no trash cans. People just pile up the gomi and I have no idea who takes it away. Sigh. The Vigilance State is not pleasant place to live. Anyway, enjoy your stay here, President Obama.

The sooner he gets out of here ,the better, he is a public servant and as such should be the lowest social priority.!

Satsu are EVERYWHERE!!!! I felt guilty just walking to work today......

I don't mind the scarcity of rubbish bins here, take my own home in the backpack, better than the continuous overflowing ones back home. Not really related but my town has removed all the smoking Manner Points from start of this month.

I wonder if Obama will visit....Obama!

Excellent photo of a smart looking young woman in Japanese garb. Perfect positioning.

It's amazing how fast Tokyo can be transformed into a police state

If you think covering trash cans and extra security during a high-profile state visit are symptoms of a police state, you need to learn more about what a real police state is like.

@Paulinusa,

It`s overkill. Stop being so paranoid. The media can mess with anyones mind.

Alex EinzAPR. 23, 2014 - 10:37AM JST The sooner he gets out of here ,the better, he is a public servant and as such should be the lowest social priority.!

Diplomacy is one of the most important roles of the POTUS and Japan is one of the USA's most important allies and closest friends. This trip will be worth more than photo ops, it will help to further cement the partnership between the USA and Japan.

gaihonjin, the sooner US gets out of everyones face and plants their POTUS firmly at home and stops bothering anyone else - the sooner this world will be a better place, you surely can see how much of a nuisance just his visit already is to the common citizen

The Japanese gov't is protecting it's reputation as much as they're protecting Obama. If anything were to happen to him while in Japan, it would be a huge embarrassment. I don't know if there will be any spectators lining the route where the POTUS will pass, but if there are, all this added security is in there best interest as well. Just look at the Boston Marathon bombings. They can't stop 100% of the attempts all of the time, but they shouldn't make it easy for them either.

A mess.

boraxApr. 23, 2014 - 08:34AM JST

Doing the same thing in Tokyo is not excessive - saying it's unnecessary because Tokyo is a safe city is incredibly naive.

I've been living here for 17 years. NOT so naive as you think.

Despite the subject matter, Japan in a nutshell, huh? All the technology and a woman walking in a kimono ! Cool !

Just ridiculous

For those asking about how that flimsy bit of plastic would stop a determined terrorist the answer is very simply, by making them conspicuous. You start pulling the tape up to put your bomb / poison gas / bag of coachroaches or whatever and you look suspicious doing it.

For people implying Obama must be unpopular, I ask, was JFK unpopular? Ronald Regan? John Lennon? About-to-be-sainted John Paul 2?

This has gone crazy, so what`s next, are they gong to make everyone stay inside during his trip here? We hope you’re not thirsty — Tokyo shuts down its vending machines for U.S. president’s visit

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/04/23/we-hope-youre-not-thirsty-japan-shuts-down-its-vending-machines-for-u-s-presidents-visit/

I wonder how non-American ex-pats feel here when the U.S. President comes, it is a huge deal with tons of press. Their country's president may never meet Japan's PM.

DudeDeuce,

I wonder how non-American ex-pats feel here when the U.S. President comes

Can't speak for everyone, of course, but for me it's a total non-event and a complete waste of tax payers' money.

I thought I'd seen the last of this kind of rubbish when I left England nearly forty years ago. But, come to think of it, even the Queen doesn't need this kind of massive protection.

I'm sure there's a meaning in that somewhere.

LMAO I told you guys it would be a night mare!!!

Oh no, there's no where for me to throw my trash! Stop your whining. This is Japan and that's nothing new. After aum shinrikyo, trash cans became scares in Tokyo. People are mildly inconvenienced for a day or 2, seems like a small price to pay for Japan hosting the leader of their most important ally. As much as the US did for Japan for 3/11, the President can visit Japan any time he wants.

erm what did US do for Japan on 3/11 ? sent ship with clueless marines who now suing Tepco for the money thats supposed to be paid to JAPANESE residents ? your president has no reason inconveniencing citizen of a foreign country, in fact I see no reason why he cant get his own plane ticket, eat ramen and drink a convini beer .. he certainly gets enough salary and if he is that unpopular that every corner he goes there is danger lurking for him... well maybe then he shouldnt be a president...