U.S. secretary of state visits Meiji Shrine in Tokyo

Source: Xinhua | 02-17-2009 08:52

TOKYO, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) Tuesday before holding a series of talks with Japanese leaders.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, center, visits Meiji Shrine in Tokyo on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder, Pool)

The shrine is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji(1852-1912) and his consort Empress Shoken. During the Meiji Period, Japan modernized and westernized itself to join the world's major powers by the time Emperor Meiji passed away in 1912.

Clinton arrived in Tokyo late Monday on her inaugural overseas trip as the top U.S. diplomat.

She is scheduled to conclude her three-day visit to Japan on Wednesday before traveling to Indonesia, South Korea and China.