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While Rome burns, the fiddlers play:
WASHINGTON Michelle Obama, wife of U.S. _resident Barack Obama, plans to make her first visit to Japan as first lady in mid-March, mostly for private purposes, sources familiar with bilateral relations said Sunday.
Michelle Obama plans to take part in a Tokyo symposium to be also attended by U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, along with other events. She is also considering visiting Kyoto. The daughters may travel to Japan with their mother this time, the sources said.