US first lady Michelle Obama meets Japanese PM Shinzo Abe in Tokyo

US first lady Michelle Obama on Thursday (March 19) met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as part of her three-day trip to Japan.

The meeting came after she announced the expansion of the US initiative "Let Girls Learn," which aims to push for the education of young women and girls.

Obama met Japan's first lady Akie Abe for lunch at her own restaurant, while Abe joked that he still hasn't been there.

Obama's initiative, launched last summer through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to reduce the number of girls—62 million worldwide—who do not attend school.

She will visit Japan's ancient capital Kyoto on Friday (March 20) before she departs for Cambodia, one of the 11 countries targeted by the Peace Corp initiative during the program's first year. — Reuters