Pomp and ceremony, as well as robot Asimo, fill up Obama’s agenda

TOKYO — On a state visit to Japan, United States President Barack Obama is being treated to a display of pomp and ceremony meant to show that the US-Japan alliance, the main pillar of America’s security strategy in Asia, is solid at a time of rising tensions over growing Chinese assertiveness and North Korean nuclear threats.

Mr Obama began his day with a call on Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace, a lush, park-like complex surrounded by modern skyscrapers, where he was greeted by a military honour guard and children holding US and Japanese flags.

After taking in the scene, the president, emperor and empress walked into the palace for a private meeting, with US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and other aides trailing behind. When Mr Obama pointed out that he did not have any gray hairs the last time they met, the emperor offered the president a gracious excuse: “You have a very hard job.”

Mr Obama then held a summit with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, before the leaders held a joint press conference. Mr Abe, perhaps keen to dispel talk that he and Mr Obama did not click, spoke warmly of their sushi dinner on Wednesday evening. “He told me the sushi we had last night was the best he’d had in his life. We spoke for an hour and a half about the issues between Japan and the US and about global issues,” Mr Abe said at the conference.

Mr Obama, for his part, thanked Mr Abe for Japan’s warm welcome and some “outstanding sushi and sake”.

But Mr Abe’s repeated use of Mr Obama’s first name during the media event — he called him “Barack” at least six times — went mostly unrequited, with the president referring to the Japanese prime minister as “Shinzo” only a couple of times.

Later, Mr Obama visited the famous Meiji shrine, where he watched traditional horseback archery, known as “yabusame”. He also wrote wishes on a wooden plaque for the people of the world to join together to promote justice, peace and prosperity.

Then, it was man versus machine as he toured Tokyo’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan).

“Welcome to Miraikan, Mr President, it is a pleasure to meet you,” said a childlike, slightly halting, voice.

Mr Obama bowed, looking delighted. His greeter, after all, was a 1.4m humanoid robot that looked like a diminutive Star Wars stormtrooper.

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” the president said, pausing to watch the robot, named Asimo, perform. Despite Mr Obama’s background in constitutional law, there is a presidential geek side that always seems charmed by technological advances. Asimo, which was made by Honda, announced, “I can really run fast,” before loping towards a soccer ball and informing Mr Obama, “I can kick a soccer ball, too.”

The robot delivered a well-aimed ball at the president, who trapped it with his foot. For its final demonstration, Asimo declared: “Recently, I have learned how to jump.” It then proceeded to hop, first on one foot, then on two.

Curious, Mr Obama asked Miraikan chief executive director, Mr Mamoru Mohri, whether the robot was remote-controlled. Yes, Mr Mohri replied, but the robot could act autonomously, too.

Mr Obama also witnessed demonstrations by other robots, including one that was designed by Japanese technicians and partially financed by the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency to help with disaster response.

“I have to say the robots were a little scary,’’ he said afterwards. “They were too life-like.”

In the evening, Mr Obama was hosted to a state dinner by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace.

Japan is the first of four countries in Mr Obama’s week-long visit to Asia. He will be in Korea today before visiting Malaysia and the Philippines. AGENCIES