Japan PM takes US ambassador on diplomatic date

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took US ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy on a test ride of Japan's super-fast magnetic train on Saturday, showcasing the "Maglev" technology Tokyo hopes to sell to its ally. "I hope ambassador Kennedy will enjoy the full package of Japan -- the blizzard of cherry blossoms, Mount Fuji and the state-of-the-art technology," a relaxed-looking Abe said ahead of the ride. As the distinctive white and pink petals of the blossom swirled in the breeze, the pair boarded at the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line near Mount Fuji. The smiling premier was able to show off the technology with ease, as the train reached speeds of 505 kilometres per hour at certain points in the journey. Maglev, short for magnetic levitation after the magnets that propel the vehicle forward in place of traditional wheels and axles, is a contender for President Barack Obama's multi-billion-dollar national high-speed rail project, according to AFP.