How Japan’s prime minister is shaking things up-video

Japan’s waters are full of riptides, but the country’s prime minister isn’t opposed to taking a dip.

U.S. President Barack Obama met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Thursday, the first stop on his high-stakes tour to four key American allies in Asia.

Notably absent from his list of destinations is China, whose huge economic growth, and the influence that comes with it, looms large over the region.

President Obama has reiterated his commitment to America’s security agreement with Japan, albeit while sticking as much as possible to dry, diplomatic language.

“Territories under the administration of Japan are covered under the treaty,” he said. “There's no shift in position, no red line; we're simply applying the treaty.”

If there’s apprehension in that statement, it is because Japan’s conservative Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has upended the commitment to pacifism that has defined post-World War II Japan.