(Asahi: January 6, 2016 – p. 4)

 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe worshipped at Ise-jingu Shrine, located in Ise City, Mie Prefecture, on Jan. 5. Following that, he explained his aspirations to reporters: “In this wonderful environment that can even be called Japan’s hometown, national leaders will gather to engage in frank discussions on the various issues facing the world, and I would like to produce fruitful results.” The summit meeting of the Group of Seven industrialized nations (G7 Ise-Shima Summit) is scheduled to be held in Japan at the end of May; the main venue will be Kashikojima Island, Shima City, Mie Prefecture.

 The Prime Minister, along with nine cabinet ministers, including Foreign Affairs Minister Fumio Kishida, worshipped first at the Outer Shrine (Geku) and then at the Inner Shrine (Naiku) on Tuesday. They strolled the grounds of the shrine for about two hours. Normally the Prime Minister holds his new year’s press conference here during his visit, but this year he didn’t, as he had held a press conference at the opening of the ordinary Diet session on Jan. 4. Prime Minister Abe has already indicated that he would like the national leaders gathering for the summit to visit Ise-jingu Shrine.