Bono, lead singer of the rock band U2, praised Japan on Tuesday for its efforts to fight world poverty and urged Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to display leadership during this week's Tokyo International Conference on African Development.
"We believe in taking people out of extreme poverty, and Japan is more successful (in this task) than any other (country). We see this in Southeast Asia" and other regions, Bono, known for his philanthropic activities in Africa, said in Tokyo. "We need Japan to take (the) lead. You are very modest people, sometimes (you) do not step forward to take credit, but you should."
However, Bono also said that Wednesday, the first day of the TICAD meeting, will be a turning point for Japan.
"Tomorrow, Prime Minister Fukuda will make a speech where we will find out how serious Japan is about taking leadership on (fighting poverty in Africa). He is a good man, a gentleman, and we will see how serious Japan is getting ready for the G8 summit" in July in Hokkaido.
Bono's speech came during a tree-planting event at Umi-no-Mori (Sea Forest) at the Inner Central Breakwater Landfill site in Tokyo Bay.
He was invited to the event, hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, because of his friendship with renowned architect Tadao Ando, an advocate of the Umi-no-Mori planting project. Bono will also make a speech at a TICAD event Thursday in Yokohama.
He said an individual African produces on average of about 0.1 percent of 1 ton of carbon dioxide a year, while a Japanese produces 10 tons and an American 20 tons.