[AmericanInTokyo]

Japanese nationwide TV today is now reporting this encounter. The Japanese media in one instance, JIJI Wire Service (large, reputable), characterized it as "Obama made the compromise to Chavez" (オバマ米大統領（左）が反米強硬派として名をはせるチャベス・ベネズエラ大統領（右）に歩み寄り、2人が言葉を交わして笑顔で握手する一幕があった).

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20090418-00000005-jijp-int.view-000

[erlayman]

Yes. NHK is describing it in much the same terms. オバマ大統領が過激なアメリカ批判で知られるベネズエラのチャベス大統領のもとに歩み寄り、握手を交わす一幕がありました。 But the headline and tenor of the article at least do make it clear that Chavez was the party initiating the handshake request along with friendlier US relations. チャベス大統領反米に変化か