The government is elated that Prime Minister Taro Aso will become on Tuesday the first head of state to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House.
But experts doubt that Aso — considered a lame duck with mere months before a major election reshapes the Lower House landscape — will leave a lasting impression, let alone manage to capitalize on the brief chat and raise his sagging approval rate.
According to media reports, the Aso-Obama summit wasn't even scheduled until Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was aboard her flight to Tokyo last week. The surprise announcement was made during an otherwise lackluster news conference between Clinton and Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone on Feb. 17.