The government fretted over an attempt by the United States to use the historic 1971 meeting between Emperor Hirohito and U.S. President Richard M. Nixon in Alaska for political purposes, according to Japanese documents declassified Thursday.

The diplomatic records reveal a tug-of-war between the United States, which expected more than pleasantries from the Emperor's talks with the U.S. leader, and Japan, which was wary of the U.S. attempt to use his visit for its intentions.

Then-Foreign Minister Takeo Fukuda, who accompanied the Emperor on the trip — his first abroad as Emperor, expressed dismay at the time, describing the U.S. move as "terribly annoying."