Bono Visits Japanese PM

While U2 was in Japan for a series of concerts earlier this month, Bono dropped by the prime minister’s residence and presented Shinzo Abe with a pair of red Armani sunglasses.

“George Bush is always looking at my sunglasses,” the singer told reporters, “but he never puts them on. The last pope, John Paul, he put them on, and so did Prime Minister Abe. Very cool.”

Bono pointed out that Japan had promised to double its aid to Africa at the 2005 Gleneagles Summit in Scotland.

“Some countries make promises and they don’t keep them. Japan we trust to fulfill their promise and the world believes in the honor of a Japanese promise.”

He said he was surprised that the prime minister gave him twice the time as he asked for prior to the meeting.

Bono lauded Japan’s contributions to Southeast Asia and its role in setting up the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

— Philip Brasor