During the recent gathering of leaders from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Lima, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's absence from the commemorative photograph drew attention. Ishiba's delay was caused by a traffic jam resulting from an accident as he returned from paying his respects at former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori's grave, leaving him unable to make it in time for the photo session on November 16.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya addressed Ishiba's absence in a news conference in Tokyo, emphasizing that while the situation was unfortunate, it did not detract from the importance of the summit or the ongoing relationships with other member countries. Iwaya classified the circumstances as a 'force majeure' event, noting that it was beyond their control and unavoidable. Moreover, he highlighted the significance of Ishiba's gesture in visiting the grave of Fujimori, a Peruvian politician of Japanese descent who passed away in September. The ceremony brought together leaders from 20 member countries, including prominent figures like U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, for the group photo session.