(c) 2014, The Washington Post. TOKYO — President Barack Obama started his week-long tour of Asia by conducting serious policy discussions with Japan's prime minister as well as delivering ceremonial greetings to the Japanese royal family, emphasizing the significance of the ties between the two nations. Speaking at a bilateral meeting in the Akasaka Palace, an elegant edifice built in a European style, the president describe the U.S.-Japan alliance as "the foundation not only for our security in the Asia Pacific region but also for the region as a whole.Read more on NewsOK.com