Japan's prime minister speaks at Harvard; next stop MIT
By Associated Press
Apr 27, 2015 9:43 AM CDT
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center sits with an aide as he leaves in his motorcade after placing a wreath at the site of one of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings Monday, April 27, 2015, in Boston. Abe met with Secretary of State John Kerry Sunday, and planned visits to Harvard and MIT later...   (Associated Press)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Japan's prime minister says his administration is trying to improve the status of women in his country as it also seeks to protect women's rights on the international stage.

Shinzo Abe (shin-zoh ah-bay) gave brief remarks and took student questions Monday morning at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

His comments came as some 100 protesters stood silently outside holding signs and banners calling for Abe to apologize for World War II-era crimes, including sexual slavery in Korea.

Abe next heads to MIT. He then flies to Washington D.C. to meet with President Barack Obama.

Abe started Monday by visiting the Boston Marathon finish line with his wife and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to pay respects to the victims of the 2013 bombings.

Abe will also visit Los Angeles and San Francisco.

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