Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister, recently listened attentively as a journalist in Cairo asked him about Egyptian-Japanese relations. Apparently they are going swimmingly. But it was not the answer that was of note. What surprised was that Mr Abe, who had not put on his headphones, had seemingly acquired fluency in the Arabic language.

The secret was that the question had been submitted well in advance. Mr Abe had not bothered to listen to the interpretation, because he already knew what the question was and how his advisers wanted him to respond.