Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe.

The latest addition to a collection of Christmas ornaments at Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's home this year came from American first lady Laura Bush, and the Abes enjoyed a cozy dinner on Christmas at a singer friend's house, according to a blog recently started by Japan's first lady.

Akie Abe, 44, launched her official blog "Akie Abe's Smile Talk" with anentryon November 21 chronicling her trip to Vietnam accompanying her husband to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

"It was my first visit to Vietnam and also my first time to attend a wives' program. I was thrilled with anxieties and anticipation before leaving Japan," she wrote.

She posted a picture of a Christmas tree decorated with ornaments and aclose-up photoofa golden bulbwith a painting of the White House, the gift from Laura Bush, on her first Christmas at the prime minister's official residence.

"My husband had a Cabinet meeting in the morning, but returned to the residence for lunch and we had porridge. I'd like to spend the day relaxing," Akie said in her December 24 entry, with a picture of her husband reaching for food at the table.

While support for the prime minister has recently declined, the public remains generally fond of the first lady, a former DJ and the daughter of a former president of one of Japan's leading confectioners, Morinaga & Co.

Recent public opinion polls have shown that support for Abe's government has fallen to about 50 percent from almost 70 percent three months ago.

First lady's blog: http://www.abe-akie.jp

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(AP)