Public support for Mr Abe's government looks set to continue falling towards the nadir seen by Yoshiro Mori, prime minister in 2000-2001 (and Mr Abe's political godfather).

ECONOMIST: Another blow to Japan's Shinzo Abe as a minister goes

The day before Abe called on Obama, on February 21, former Japanese prime minister Mori Yoshiro was received by Putin in the Kremlin.

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Even his political godfather, Yoshiro Mori, a former prime minister, seemed at the weekend to give up on Mr Abe.

ECONOMIST: Japan