Michelle Obama tells Abe: 'Let's do lunch'

In a good-natured exchange at Abe’s office, he revealed: “Actually I’ve never been to the restaurant”.

He should be embarrassed. His wife has a successful restaurant, and he's never even been there. Great role model the PM is -- he talks about getting more women in management, but can't even make time to support his wife. The old "Do as I say, not as I do."

I suspect that if he did visit her restaurant he'd be criticised for using his position to promote his wife's business.

ADK - exactly - he is a public person first, his answer was absolutely correct. Just imagine the hyenas howling if he would have answered anything else, that could be taken as an endorsement, from a public position.

Really, how do you not go to your own wife's restaurant? I hate to be that guy, but that's such a Japanese husband thing to do.

he talks about getting more women in management, but can't even make time to support his wife

@jerseyboy: I would think the whole point of encouraging women to work is to make themselves able to support themselves, rather than rely on their husbands. I'd also prefer it if the PM wasn't going to Izakayas to give patronage to his wife's business

MrBum - if his wife benefits anything from a public visit, it is illegal. He probably went there privately, just can't state it in public...

I didn't see that aspect of it. Point taken. Although, I'm not sure how illegal it is. Isn't the fact that it's a restaurant owned by the PM's wife publicity enough? Anyway, it seems like Abe's mother is really uptight about her running an izakaya, so I'm guessing that has a lot to do with it.

MrBum - if his wife benefits anything from a public visit, it is illegal. He probably went there privately, just can't state it in public...

ebisen -- nonsense. There is no law against the PM being proud of his wife's accomplishments and stating it to Mrs. Obama. IMO, it is more likely he has never been there, as he stated, than your theory. Respectfully, Japanese men, even the PM, are not used to dealing with strong, opinionated women, so Mrs. Obama's stating "“Prime Minister, first of all, your wife is an amazing woman,” said Obama, as she met Abe at his office. “And the restaurant is good, so you have to try it." most likely stunned him. And his response refelected that.

MrBum - if his wife benefits anything from a public visit, it is illegal.

Abe has publicly visited Yasukuni shrine as Prime Minister - thus riling China and SOuth Korea, but can't even publicly visit his wife's restaurant. That to me, makes his priorities as Prime Minister very clear. I'd imagine his wife is rather disappointed

he is a public person first, his answer was absolutely correct.

I think he would have been better off replying something along the lines of "yes, lets do it".

'Let's do lunch'

A very irritating expression.

What did he actually say in Japanese? I suspect he just means that he has never eaten there? ... it would be pretty weird if he has never even poped in just to have a look after the customers have left.

I don't think she opened her izakaya to make money only. She can meet generak public there than staying PM's residence.. Even she could not get a job in her family created business, she inherited the company stocks and from that, she is loaded. USA First Lady studied about Abe family before she came to Japan. American people eat a lot all day long, It was a good suggestion to eat at Mrs Abe's izakaya/

"Prime Minister...."

I like her, and Abe's missus, but someone should tell her that "Prime Minister" isn't a form of address. He's "Mr Abe".

You don't call the bloke who makes your bread "Baker Smith."

The trivialisation of politics continues.

The trivialisation of politics continues.

However so? I see nothing wrong with this at all.

Maybe they're trying to rein in expenses. Maybe he should raise taxes so that us taxpayers can pay for his visit to his wife's restaurant, or not

WOW! How stupid. A human being has to eat and PM or not if he wants to go into his wife's spot and grab a bowl of stew he should be able too. What a bunch of nonsense if anyone cares.

Hopefully for Abe she doesn't mean, "Let's do lunch" the way they do in Hollywood.

The First Lady "doing lunch" with Honest Abe is so trivial. what exactly does this achieve of any rerlevance to the plethora of problems facing the US and Japan?

Like virgo said, people gotta eat. Does everything a world leader does have to be a monumental achievement?

As for complaints from taxpayers, they should lighten up so long as the meal isn't too extravagant.

"Obama, who is in Japan to launch the “Let Girls Learn” initiative,told an audience there was a global “crisis” that left 62 million girls without the chance of an education."

The Taliban haven't helped with this situation in Afghanistan, and IS isn't helping with this situation in Iraq or Syria.

I bet Abe goes to Akie's izakaya next time Michelle comes, though he may not be the prime minister by then.

Politician eating out with tax payers money? Don't eatery owners decline to accept money? I am sure they got free meal from Akie.

"Let's do lunch" the way they do in Hollywood.

In movie studio shooting time, that means it is hot dog time. Visit Hollywood. I am sure Akie will serve better food than Hollywood lunch style.

"Let's do lunch" is a colloquial American English expression. Michelle certainly didn't imply to Abe that they eat hot dogs or an american style lunch like Hollywood hotshots. Don't be so absurd. Michelle knows hosts will wine & dine her with their finest.

"Let's do lunch" is a colloquial American English expression'

Yes, I know. It's very irritating. It's up there with 'my bad', 'use my smarts' and 'so not good'.

The First Lady "doing lunch" with Honest Abe is so trivial. what exactly does this achieve of any rerlevance to the plethora of problems facing the US and Japan?

Why should everything the First lady does have to achieve something "of any relevance to the plethora of problems facing the US (sic) and Japan"?

@Wc626 and Jimizo: Since she does not live in Calif and she lives in DC, please write what "Let's do lunch insinuate in DC offices between different countries.or between rival politicians.

But she wanted to eat Japanese izakaya food and green tea..

In Hollywood lingo (only), "Let's do lunch" means "Forget it, we won't be seeing you again." I am not saying I like the expression BTW.

. . . . Wha ?