When the Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi makes his last visit to the US as Japanese premier next month, he will pay homage to the president and the King. Mr Koizumi will visit Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley, the King of rock and roll, as part of his farewell trip before stepping down as prime minister in September. In a highly unusual move, Mr Bush is considering accompanying Mr Koizumi to Memphis for the visit. Mr Bush decided to give Mr Koizumi, a huge Elvis fan, the Graceland trip to thank him for his support, including taking the politically difficult decision to send Japanese troops to Iraq.
Mr Koizumi, who shares his birthday with Elvis, is such a fan that in 2001 a record label in Japan launched a CD called "Junichiro Koizumi Presents: My Favourite Elvis Songs". While visiting Australia last year, Mr Koizumi, who was sitting beside the Australian foreign minister, crooned along as the musicians played Elvis’s “I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You”.