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Koizumi Impresses Rice With His Elvis Knowledge

June 09, 2004 | People
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi impressed U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice with his knowledge of Elvis Presley songs at a dinner Tuesday.

"The prime minister is more familiar with American culture than I am," G-8 sources quoted Rice as telling Koizumi when he said that one of the a cappella gospel songs they heard over the dinner had been covered by the U.S. rock 'n' roll icon.
Source:Japan Today
CD King wrote on June 10, 2004
The Prime Minister of Japan is a well-known Elvis Fan. He DID NOT record an album of Elvis songs. What he did was, he picked his favorite Elvis numbers and put them onto a BMG Comnpilation CD. Do you think President George Bush or Prime Minister Tony Blair also like ELVIS PRESLEY?
TonyP wrote on June 10, 2004
I think the exact Clinton quote on Bush was: 'You know, Bush is always comparing me to Elvis in sort of unflattering ways. I don't think Bush would have liked Elvis very much, and that's just another thing that's wrong with him.' In her autobiography, Hillary talks of how when she first started dating Bill, he used to croon Elvis songs to her when they went for walks. Didn't the Japanese PM sing an Elvis song with Tom Cruise when he met him during the filming of The Last Samurai?
MauriceColgan wrote on June 10, 2004
Gribz, the best way to let the world know of such important Elvis Presley fans is to tell the media about them whenever you can. Young reporters know little about Elvis. The statue of Elvis in Tokyo looks the part:-) Got me writing a poem about Elvis statues which eventually led to the one in Tupelo! From little acorns grow.. :-)
dismas wrote on June 10, 2004
CD King: I'm not sure about Bush II, but his father was certainly no E.P. fan. As a matter of fact, Clinton commented on more than one occasion when he was running against him that Daddy Bush's obvious disdain for Elvis was just another reason not to like and/or trust him.
Bill E. Burk wrote on June 09, 2004
PM Koizumi could well be Japan's ichiban (#1) Elvis fan; one of the world's top Elvis fans. It was Koizumi (then a city councilman) and his brother, also an Elvis fan, who was directly responsible for that larger than life Elvis statue that sits in a "rock 'n roll" park in downtown Tokyo and has, for years. Koizumi also recorded a CD of Elvis songs just after becoming PM. He makes no secret of his admiration for Elvis. We detailed all of this in ELVIS WORLD soon after his appointment to the PM post. BILL E. BURK, Publisher, ELVIS WORLD
gribz wrote on June 09, 2004
I heard he was a huge Elvis fan. I wish this stuff got reported more by the main-stream press..