[RANDOM] Thanks Japan! Obama thanks Shinzo Abe for anime and manga in speech

As part of his state visit to the United States of America, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, met US President Barack Obama at the White House as part on ongoing trade discussions. However, during his visit, Barack Obama, had a very surprising thank you message which included a thank you for some of Japan’s most popular imports which include emojis, and of course, anime and mangas.

In his speech, the “leader of the free world” said

“Today is a chance for Americans, especially our young people, to say thank you for all the things we love from Japan, like karate and karaoke, manga and anime, and, of course, emojis”

That is the most powerful man in the world thanking the leader of Japan for anime and manga (and emojis) right there, and it certainly means that he (at least) acknowledges the influence of Japanese pop culture in the United States. Thanks Obama!

The itinerary for Prime Minister Abe will include a tour of the Lincoln Memorial with President Obama before heading to a state dinner at the White House, as well as watching a performance from the Jersey Boys stage musical cast as well as discussions about the American and Japanese auto industries as both the USA and Japan are two of the biggest automotive manufacturers on Earth.

source: ANN, image via Mandel Ngan, AFP