Bush, Koizumi Headed to Graceland

The hair should have tipped me off. Turns out Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is a huge Elvis Presley fan. How huge? “The 64-year-old PM is well known as the most serious Elvis disciple of today’s world leaders,” according to the Washington Post’s Reliable Source column. “He shares a birthday (Jan. 8) with the rock icon, and his brother once ran the Presley fan club’s Yokohama chapter. In 1987, he was one of the key players in erecting a bronze statue of Presley in Tokyo. He’s sung Elvis tunes poolside at [President] Bush’s Crawford ranch and dazzled Condi Rice with his knowledge of Elvis trivia at a G8 dinner. And in 2001, he released a 25-song compilation CD called ‘Junichiro Koizumi Presents: My Favorite Elvis Songs.’ It was sold only in Japan, and all proceeds went to charity.”

So it makes sense that the Bush administration, as a gift to Koizumi before he leaves office in September, plans to take him to Graceland. Or, as the Post calls it, “the awesomest road trip ever (except that they’ll probably fly).” Could this be the Bush administration’s most awesomest move ever? Some hardcore Elvis fans think so.

The trip to Tennessee will take place June 30.

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