US President Bill Clinton, jettisoning diplomatic conventions, has intervened in Japanese domestic politics in the run-up to the July 18 general election, calculating that he can assist the winds of political change blowing through the country.
Mr Clinton could be taking a grave risk since public opinion polls timed to coincide with the Group of Seven summit in Tokyo, clearly show Japanese and American attitudes towards each other are moving from friendship towards reviving former antagonism.
His moves were ostensibly meant to be neutral, of course.
In his joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa on Tuesday, Mr Clinton went out of his way to praise Mr Miyazawa's qualities of ''energy and engagement and openness'', which he had displayed in US-Japan trade negotiations.
But with Mr Miyazawa's approval rating at 6.7 per cent - according to a pre-summit poll by the right-wing daily Sankei Shimbun - Mr Clinton's kind words had all the resonance of a valedictory.
Many Japanese will have seen his remarks to Mr Miyazawa as the tatemae (outward show), while the honne (inner meaning) was his behaviour and body language at a reception given at the US Ambassador's residence in Tokyo.