washington japanese first lady akie abe make round washington friday noticeably absent high-level chaperone previous visit america first lady rather melania trump wife japanese ambassador unite state accompany akie abe visit local university japanese embassy official say departure akie abe previous visit washington 2007 treat tour laura bush george washington home mount vernon 2015 michelle obama stop northern virginia elementary school japanese immersion program break convention three weeks husband donald trump presidency another sign melania trump may different design first lady role predecessors melania trump elect stay new york son finish school year yet clear take prominent role white house social events include accompany fellow first ladies visit capital japanese prime minister shinzo abe wife schedule spend weekend trump florida mar-a-lago retreat two leaders golf task host mrs. abe fall melania husband strive appear lock-step u.s.-japan relations weekend melania trump may find japanese counterpart someone many ways opposite political spouse shun limelight disagree publicly powerful husband melania trump former model slovenia rarely air differences opinion husband akie abe contrast use news interview make policy recommendations administration lead dub household opposition tell reuters 2014 japan consider cut spend boost economy raise sales tax 10 percent say urge husband go forward first stage rise percent avail critique japan male-dominated professional culture akie abe tell bloomberg last year japanese women hold back pressure men cute rather capable hardworking public profile make rarity japan well stark contrast melania trump largely avoid campaign trail show deep interest public policy rarely disagree trump public despite damage revelations videotape trump emerge 2016 presidential campaign boast grab women genitals melania say brief statement word unacceptable offensive accept apology differ style could keep weekend conversations light side would certainly expect discussion global politics melania akie say jean harris university scranton professor study role first ladies see melania want part conversations akie abe openness state point disagreement husband parallel even american politics first ladies tend diverge husband public though may crucial advisors behind scenes harris say election melania trump say cbs interview chide husband time twitter attack sometimes listen sometimes say give opinion could whatever like it u.s. japan first ladies unconventional yet pole apart