Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's wife, Akie Abe, visited a U.S. elementary school on Tuesday that operates a Japanese immersion program, saying she hopes the students will acquire a deep interest in the culture.
Abe, who was accompanied by U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, was welcomed by a group of students at Great Falls Elementary School in Virginia, where subjects such as math and science are taught in Japanese.
"I hope you have more interest in Japan and you will touch upon the different aspects of Japanese culture in the future," Abe said through a translator.
"Many Japanese have been yearning for the U.S. and wanting to be like the U.S. for many years. I'm very proud of the fact that many Americans are interested in Japanese culture now," she said.
Michelle Obama encouraged the students to interact with children from other countries and learn about each other.
"My wish for all of you and for young people across America is that you have the chance to engage with kids from other parts of the world, that you learn about each other's lives . . . so that you can truly see for yourselves firsthand just how much we all have in common around the world," Obama said.
Obama visited Tokyo in March. It was her first visit to Japan as U.S. first lady, and was part of an tour of Asia to promote girls' education. The U.S. and Japanese first ladies have announced a new bilateral partnership to help girls around the world complete their education.