Now That's More Like It

There was another state dinner last night, this time for Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and this one was a lot better than the one I posted about last month.

First, there's the entertainment: Brian Setzer and his 17-piece band, and also Japanese country-western fiddle player Shoji Tabuchi. I did not even know there was such a thing.

Second, the random celebrities: Hank Aaron, Ben Crenshaw, figure skaters Rena Inoue and John Baldwin, Iron Chef Masahura Morimoto (that's his actual title), Apolo Ohno and his date, the somewhat puzzlingly named Maria John Nicholas Kelly, and Kristi Yamaguchi and her husband Bret Hedican who plays for the Hurricanes. That's a lot of different kinds of ice skaters.

And then there are the Washington types. Poor Harriet Miers didn't bring a date. Was Nathan Hecht busy? Karen Hughes' date was Anne Mulcahy, the CEO of Xerox. Hmm.

Today, they're off to Graceland, where they're meeting with Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley. Just like the American Idol finalists! I wonder if Tommy Mottola will be there too.

Update:

Here's another picture of Koizumi at Graceland. I think I sort of love him.