Michelle Obama wraps up cultural tour of Japan and leaves for Cambodia

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The first lady arrived in Japan on Wednesday, visiting Tokyo and Kyoto before the final leg of the trip to Cambodia
Mrs Obama used her high profile visit to promote a commitment in both countries to girls' education
As part of her visit, Mrs Obama played a traditional Taiko drum in a UNESCO World Heritage Site from 780AD

By Associated Press and Pete D'amato For Daily Mail Online

Published: 23:22 EST, 19 March 2015 | Updated: 18:18 EST, 20 March 2015

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First Lady Michelle Obama spent the final hours of her visit to Japan 'banging the drum' on her mission to promote education among girls world-wide.

Mrs Obama stopped off at 1,000-year-old Buddhist and Shinto houses of worship in Kyoto - which in the past served as Japan's capital.

Mrs Obama toured the Kiyomizu-dera temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site built in 780 on a tree-lined hill overlooking the city, and also visited the Fushimi Inari shrine, one of the most well-known Shinto shrines.

At the Buddhist temple, the first lady watched local college students enacting a Noh performance, a classical style of Japanese musical drama using ornate costumes and masks to play the roles of women, ghosts and various other characters.

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Michelle Obama met with members of the Akutagawa High School Taiko Club during her visit to a Shinto shrine in Kyoto, western Japan

Mrs Obama told the youngsters 'you guys are good! That's good exercise. Wonderful' after having a go on the traditional Taiko drums

Mrs Obama did not accompany her husband on a trip to Japan last year so used this visit to promote girls' education projects

Local college students in kimono performed a brief piece of Noh, a classical Japanese musical drama that usually employs elaborate costumes and stylized masks to symbolize roles of women, ghosts and other characters.

After Kiyomizu-dera, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Mrs Obama traveled across town to the 1,300-year-old Fushimi Inari shrine, a place of worship for Japan's other major religion, Shinto.

There are 30,000 such shrines in Japan that venerate the guardian god of abundant harvests, prosperity and family safety. The Fushimi Inari is renowned for the many crimson torii gates lining paths through its leafy grounds.

Commenting on the performance, Mrs Obama said: 'You guys are good! That's good exercise. Wonderful.'

Mrs Obama arrived in Japan on Wednesday for a visit that has focused mainly on cooperation in the 'Let Girls Learn' initiative to support girls' education in the developing world. President Barack Obama and his wife recently announced the program, which will devote millions of dollars in aid for girls' empowerment projects.

Writing on her blog, Mrs Obama said: 'Does this kind of work sound exciting to you? If so, you should consider joining the Peace Corps

'You can also make a difference by tutoring a classmate, or reading to a younger sibling, or volunteering through your school or place of worship.'

Mrs Obama is flying to Cambodia today on the final leg of her Far East tour. The impoverished nation is one of the 11 countries to be included in the Peace Corps' 'Let Girls Learn' programme.

President Barack Obama and his wife recently announced the program, which will devote millions of dollars in aid for girls' empowerment projects.

This is Mrs Obama's first visit to Japan, as she did not accompany the president on his state visit last year. The visit is seen partly as a way of making up for her absence then, and as a sign of closeness between the allies.

Mrs Obama arrived in Japan on Wednesday on the start of her five-day trip to the Far East which concludes in Cambodia

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Mrs Obama will arrive in Cambodia later today as part of her pledge to help promote education to the 62 million girls who are not in school

Noh pressure: Michelle Obama, along with monk Eigen Onishi (left), US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy (second from right) and her son John Schlossberg (right) watch a college student perform Noh at the Kiyomizu-dera temple outside Kyoto

Special attention: Mrs Obama and the group quietly watched as a student put on a Noh performance in front of the vista overlooked by the Kiyomizu-dera temple

Student performance: Mrs Obama, shown watching a traditional Noh performance, flew to Japan with plans to visit Cambodia with plans to promote girls' education

Performance: Mrs Obama and the group quietly watched as a student put on a Noh performance in front of the vista overlooked by the Kiyomizu-dera temple

Welcomed: Mrs Obama is led through the temple by monk Eigen Onishi, followed by US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy's son Jack Schlossberg

Farewell: Mrs Obama waves goodbye on leaving Haneda International in Tokyo to visit Kyoto before flying on to Cambodia

Cultural tour: First Lady Michelle Obama stood with Akie Abe, wife of Japan's prime minister at Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, Thursday, as Mrs Obama began a tour aimed to promote girls' education

Let's do lunch: Mrs Obama met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo before heading to western Japan and on to Cambodia

Cultural visit: Mrs Obama also met with Emperor Akihito, center, and Empress Michiko at the imperial residence in Tokyo on Thursday, during a visit to engender a commitment to education for girls