Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi displayed typical forthrightness last month when he openly backed President George W. Bush -- a man he calls his friend -- in the U.S. presidential election.
Koizumi broke a diplomatic taboo on Oct. 14 when responding to a question on the close presidential race between Bush and Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry.
"I don't want to interfere in an election in another country," he said. "But I'd like President Bush to hang in there because he's a close friend."