Michelle Obama skips Japan visit

WASHINGTON--Michelle Obama, the wife of the U.S. president, will not be joining him on his visit to Japan starting Friday.

Instead, she is giving priority to her duties as a mother.

The couple's daughters Malia and Sasha are sixth- and third-graders, respectively, at a private school in Washington, D.C. They have classes during the president's week-long tour of Asia.

The girls, along with their mother, joined President Barack Obama on part of his tour of Europe and Turkey between the end of March and April, as well as trips to Europe, Russia and Africa in July, while on school vacation.

The president will visit Singapore, China and South Korea after leaving Japan on Saturday.(IHT/Asahi: November 13,2009)