First Stop: Japan, Day 2

So Tuesday in Japan, which is actually today over here... confusing, I know... Hillary Clinton had a busy day.

She first visited Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) which is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) and his consort Empress Shoken. Nuclear envoy Christopher Hill accompanied her to the visit.

Led to the shrine by Shinto priests, she participates in a traditional Shinto ritual for purification which includes a washing of the hand before entering. While taking a tour of the Shrine she greets traditional Japanese dancers, without her shoes I must add, meets and shakes hands with priests and priestesses, makes and offering of prayers, tastes sake and signs her name and title in a visitor book. She also took part in a ceremony at the shrine, dedicated to the father of modern Japan Emperor Meiji, where the priest stressed balance and harmony.

"It's not only a good concept for religious shrines, it's a good concept for America's role in the world. "We need to be looking to create more balance, more harmony," she said.

“We’re going to be listening but we’re also going to be asking for more partnerships to come together to try to work with us to handle the problems that none of us can handle alone. These are hard times economically for the Japanese people, just as it is in many places around the world. I am absolutely confident we will navigate our way through these difficulties.”

After the visit to the shrine she held a series of talks with Japanese leaders including Japanese Minister of Defense Yasukazu Hamada and Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone. At the Iikura Guesthouse, Hillary Clinton and Minister for Japan's Foreign Affairs Hirofumi Nakasone signed an agreement finalizing the transfer of 8,000 U.S. Marines from the southern island of Okinawa to Guam by 2014. This was followed by a joint news conference where the Secretary once again put much focus on North Korea. She says a possible missile launch would be "very unhelpful in moving our relationship forward." She repeated an offer of aid and renewed ties if there was a "complete and verifiable denuclearisation" of the state.

Watch a video clip of her speech at the news conference here.

Next up on the grand tour of Japan is a scheduled meeting with the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, Ichiro Ozawa, tea with the Japanese empress and a meeting with families of Japanese citizens who were abducted decades ago by North Korean agents.

p.s.- Hillary is again wearing my new favorite color on her, Royal Blue! Yay for bright blue pantsuits!