Clinton visits Tokyo Shinto shrine+

TOKYO, Feb. 17 Kyodo -
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday got a sense of Japan's
traditional culture by visiting Meiji Jingu, a major Shinto shrine, and
watching a traditional dance prior to talks with top Japanese officials.

Clinton, wearing a blue jacket and smiling, told reporters that she came to the
Tokyo shrine to ''show respect toward the history and culture of Japan'' and
stressed the need to enhance relations between Japan and the United States.
''There's such an important history but there is an even better future as we
work together,'' the 61-year-old top U.S. diplomat said.
Accompanied by the shrine's chief priest, Seitaro Nakajima, Clinton offered a
sacred branch at the main shrine building and paid her respects by bowing once
before signing a registry book and writing down comments, according to shrine
officials.
She also watched shrine maidens perform a sacred dance based on a poem by
Emperor Showa, the posthumous name of Emperor Hirohito (1926-1989), which hopes
for peace, they said.
Clinton's appearance came as a surprise to some of the visitors to the shrine
in the morning.
''She seemed to have an inner fortitude, unlike our country's politicians,''
Aiko Mizukami, 71, said, expressing disappointment about Prime Minister Taro
Aso, who is struggling with low popularity following a series of policy
flip-flops and gaffes.
Mizukami, who strolls around the shrine every morning, said she hopes Clinton
will contribute to world peace.
The shrine in Shibuya Ward is dedicated to Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) and his
consort Empress Shoken (1850-1914). Emperor Meiji's reign is famous for
transforming Japan from an isolated, feudal country into a modern world power.
In 2002, then U.S. President George W. Bush visited the shrine during his stay
in Japan.
==Kyodo