Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has visited Graceland, former home of his musical hero Elvis Presley, at the end of a trip to meet US President George Bush.
The two leaders were given a private tour of the King's former home by his daughter Lisa Marie and her mother Priscilla.
Mr Koizumi is renowned for his love of the rock and roll legend. He has sung Elvis songs to other world leaders and has released his own CD of personal Elvis favourites.
Amid the ceramic monkeys and green shag-pile carpet of Graceland's Jungle Room, Mr Koizumi sang a few bars of "Love me tender" for the cameras.
"It's like a dream, I never expected Mr President to come with me to visit Graceland. There's an Elvis song [sings] 'to dream the impossible dream'. My dream came true," he said.
The leaders travelled to Memphis on Air Force One with Elvis's songs on the sound system and one of his favourite foods - fried banana and peanut butter sandwiches - on the menu.
At a state dinner on Thursday, Mr Koizumi toasted US-Japanese relations: "In the words of Elvis: I want you, I need you, I love you."
The Graceland trip followed serious talks covering issues such as North Korea and beef exports.
Mr Bush described the trip to Memphis as a farewell present to the Japanese leader, who leaves office in September.
|
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~50~RS~)
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~50~RS~)
One-Minute World News
News services
E-mail this to a friend
