on the next "washington journal", rick snyder talks about how issues like the economy, immigration, and gun violence are affecting his state. then a look at the possible impact of across-the-board spending cuts with tom shoop. also, defense news correspondent marcus weisgerber. that is live at 7:00 a.m. eastern, on c-span. >> at age 25, she was one of the wealthiest widows in the colonies. during the revolution, while in her mid-40's, she was considered an enemy by the british who threatened to take her hostage. later, she would become our nation's first first lady at age 57. meet martha washington, monday night, in the first program of c-span's new weekly series, "first ladies, influence and

image." we will visit some places that influenced her life, colonial williamsburg, mount vernon, valley forge and philadelphia. be part of the conversation about martha washington with your phone calls, tweets, and facebook post live monday night at 9:00 p.m. eastern on c-span, c-span radio and c-span.org. >> the british house of commons was in recess last week, so prime minister's questions will not be seen tonight. the japanese prime minister met friday with hobo at the white house. later that day -- president obama at the white house. later that day, he discussed his economic plan which has been called abenomics. this is 45 minutes. [applause]

>> thank you for coming. i am delighted to have you here. i am the president of css. i have to share with with you, this is a little story. the more important you are in washington, the worse you are treated when you come to a building. there were six elevators, you could take any one you wanted. but if you're the prime minister of japan, you have to come on the trash elevator. we make you come down to reserve room. that is what it means when you are important. it is called security. we are delighted to have the prime minister here. this is an exciting time for us. we know of his leadership through the years and we are really delighted to have him here.

we are excited that he can be with us today. i would especially like to say words of thanks for our colleagues. we are delighted to have you here, a senior advisor to the prime minister is here. the deputy chief and cabinet secretary. the ambassador is here, one of my bosses. i have to recognize him. a great service for america and japan, we are delighted to have you here. and the governor from alaska, he is our closest state to japan and has the keenest interest in japan. it is wonderful to have you here, governor. there is a new word in washington, the new economics that prime minister abe is bringing to japan. we have to get ourselves started again and i think that is exactly what he is doing in japan.

i would like to take a second, talk about the foreign-policy agenda. japan's foreign policy going forward to protect freedom of thought, expression, and speech in the asia-pacific. can you think of anything more important than that? this will help transform the region. to make sure that the seas are governed by rule of law and not by intimidation or power. to pursue interconnected economies and bring about a more fruitful enter cultural ties with japan and other countries in asia. and to promote the exchange with the younger generation.

these are the principles the prime minister has articulated and i think they are good for america. this is a partnership that is good for us. we will have a chance to hear prime minister abe. the meeting with the president was extended because -- i do not know how much he is going to tell us. it is a very important dialogue that we have between japan and america. this is the most foundational relationship we have and we needed to be successful. i know the prime minister will be a key leader for that. about 80% of americans believe that u.s.-japan relationships is the most important foundational relationship in asia. it is emblematic of how a important we give this

relationship. in his tenure and president obama's second term, we are delighted to have him here. please welcome him with your applause, prime minister abe. [applause] >> thank you for your warm introduction. thank you, ambassador. thank you, governor. thank you, doctor green.

and thank you all for joining me today. last year, we updated a paper about japan. they asked if japan would end up becoming that nation. here is my answer to you. japan is not and will never be a tier two country. that is the core message i am here to make. i am back. [laughter] [applause] thank you.

and so shall japan be. that is what i wanted to say. i could stop here and take questions for the next 50 minutes. i know, however, that society has started to look anxious. bear with me for another 20 minutes. the time i have spent, five years, since being prime minister. first and foremost, where japan should stand in the future. japan could do this, and what japan must continue to do, here are the tasks that are always in my mind. in the asia-pacific, it gets more and more prosperous. japan remains.

for investment properties, labor, environment, and the like. secondly, japan must continue to be a guardian of global commands. like maritime command (enough to benefit everyone. japan will work even more closely with the u.s.. throughout the region. we are and effective ally and partner to the u.s.. i also looked at the globe. as your longstanding ally and partner, japan is a country that

has benefited from and contributed to peace and prosperity in the asia pacific for well over half a century. needless to say, it has been our alliance. it is high time in this era of a resurgence for japan to bear even more responsibilities to promote our values.

and grow side-by-side with high achievers in the region. no luxury is allowed for japan to be absorbed against economic malaise. they also told me that japan must remain a robust partner in fighting against terrorism. the result is even stronger now after what happened in algeria. the killing of 10 japanese and three american engineers. the world still awaits japan.

we are promoting human rights. global warming. the list goes on. that is why i am turning around the japanese economy. i said a moment ago that the agents are making great progress with the exceptions of a single country. i should have added the exception, of course. north korea.

the nuclear test, inducing an added distinction. the nuclear ambitions should not be tolerated unless they give up on developing a nuclear arsenal. they objected. my government will give them no reward. this is no regional matter. we should work with the u.s., south korea, and others to stop them from seeking those ambitions. if you look at the lapel of my jacket, i put on a blue ribbon to remind myself each and every day that i must bring back the japanese people that north korea has objected.

among banharn was a girl -- among them was a girl who was only 13. that is the reason why behind human rights, japan must stay strong. for the economy and also for national defense. let me tell you that japan must be here as well. to increase for the first time in many years, the budget for homeland defense. today, here, with you and all of my distinct friends and guests, i make a pledge. i will get back a strong japan.

we will do more good for the betterment of the world. [applause] japanese borders have given me a renewed ability as prime minister to turn my tasks in to reality. each morning, a wake-up with tremendous responsibility. something called abenomics. i did not coin the word.

this is the name for my economic supply. in japan, inflation has gone on for more than a decade. my plan is to get rid of that, first and foremost. indeed, it has made a jump start. the bank of japan who will do their job. investors, both japanese and foreign. japan's industrial fell to export growth has risen as a result. the second is to carry out a

supplementary budget. to lift the economy by 2%. the third one is about growth strategy. consumption and investment will come much sooner. so far, all economic indicators, which have shot those before. but only incrementally. there are strong and being shot with any interval. soon, japan will export more.

the u.s. will be the first to benefit from that. from china, india, indonesia, and so on. that is not the end of the story. a task even graver remains. to enhance japan's productivity. women should be given much greater opportunities. the mostly aged population should be able to give their money to the younger generation with similar tax burdens, which is exactly what my government is now doing.

before conclusion, let me make a few words on china. and then define how i view the u.s.-japan relationship. history and international law both attest the japan sovereign territory. between 1895 and 1971, no challenge was made by anyone against japanese sovereignty. we simply cannot tolerate any challenge now and in the future. no nation should make any miscalculation about the permanence of our resolve.

no one should ever doubt the robustness of the japan-u.s. alliance. at the same time, i have absolutely no intention for escalation. my government is investing more into the people oppose the exchange's between japan and china. for me, japan's relations with

china stand out as among the most important. i never cease to pursue what i call mutually beneficial relationships based on the economic interests with china. the doors are always open for the chinese leaders. it leads me to say a few words on our mutual ties between the u.s. and japan. in order for us, japan and the united states, to generally provide for the region at the world, more democracy and more security with less poverty, japan must stay strong. that is my first point.

i have started to revisit our national defense program outline. our defense ministry is getting an increased budget in order to do that at the start. looking back, it is remarkable. between japan and the u.s., bad days and good, rain or shine, for more than one-fourth of the entire history of the united states. it should not surprise anyone. the oldest and the biggest maritime democracy. and japan also has the most experienced and the biggest democracy. it is a natural fit. the biggest emerging market, now out in conclusion.

gentlemen, my task is to look-- ladies and gentlemen, my task is to look towards the future. and make japan the second biggest emerging market in the world. and even more trusted partner for the region and the world. the road ahead is not short. i know that.

but i have made a comeback just to do it. for the betterment of the world. i know that i must work hard as well to make it happen. ladies and gentlemen, japan is back. [applause] and keep counting on my country. thank you very much. [applause]

>> prime minister, thank you very much, and welcome back. we will take questions. please ask the questions in english. keep them short and to set the standard, i will turn it back to john. >> i don't know of an american president that could give a speech to the japanese public in japanese. i want to say thank you, this is a real honor that you gave us this speech in english, thank you. prime minister, i received a phone call from the national security council had they said it was a very good meeting. they felt it was quite constructive and they did not tell me what you talked about. i am wondering about your insights in your perspective. [speaking japanese]

>> today's meeting was attended by vice president biden and the secretary of state. basically, we discussed how we would strengthen the alliance that exist between our two countries. as a result of our discussion, we were able to share not just the understanding of strengthening our alliance, but concrete ways in which we would achieve that.

we were able to agree completely on those things between the two of us. and i think the bond of alliance between japan and the united states which tends to waver a little bit during the past three years, i can declare with confidence that a strong bond of alliance between japan and the united states is back. we were able to discuss many issues, wide-ranging, and the area of politics, regional issues, economics, and we talked about how we will deal with those issues in those areas. based on a strong like between the two countries. >> [speaking japanese]

>> this is one example, but on the issue of north korea have launching of missiles and the conducting of of tests by north korea, we agree that we would deal with these issues in a cooperated way. we would resolutely deal with that issue and jointly pursue a chapter 7 resolution in the un security council. we also talked about how we would strengthen sanctions. for example, financial sanctions being applied to north korea.

>> [speaking japanese] >> concerning the asia-pacific region, we agreed that we would have to work together to maintain freedom of the seas. and also that we would have to create a region governed not on force, but based on international law. >> thank you for coming and taking my question. i am a student at american university and i conducted a research study to examine how the next generation of americans use the u.s.-japan relationship.

-- view the u.s.-japan relationship. the greatest problem i found was a lack of awareness and what is going to happen moving forward. i was wondering if you could address your plan to make sure that you understand the rich history our countries have had. >> [speaking japanese]

>> i would like the people from the younger generation to pay attention to the alliance between japan and the united states. i said this in the meeting with the president today that a stronger united states leads to a stronger japan. and a stronger japan leads to a stronger united states. this is not only for the promotion of our respective national interests, but also for a lot of things we can do together in areas like the middle east or africa or at the united nations. our countries can do things together working in these areas to create a better world.

moving forward in the future, i would like people to think about this. >> [speaking japanese] >> in concrete terms, the u.s. forward deployment strategy is the linchpin of peace and stability in the region. but at the same time, the presence of the u.s. forces in japan is what leads to peace and stability in the region.

japan provides a possibility for that to happen as well. i don't think there is any country in the world that doesn't have the willingness to serve as a port for the fleet. >> mr. prime minister, it is good to see you again. you mentioned in your speech about north korea. i would like to ask you about south korea. we have a new president to be inaugurated next week. but at the same time, it has created a difficult tension in japan and south korea relations. i would like to know what your vision is for the future.

given the threats that you mentioned in your speech. [laughter] [laughter] >> [speaking japanese]