But though Obuchi may have been intent on experiencing exactly the same visual sensations as his counterparts, the man who describes himself as ``the plodding ox'' of Japanese politics briefly attracted as much attention as the wonders held in the world's biggest museum.

Museum officials said the premier's circuit was identical to those of other visitors from Japan -- the paintings of Delacroix and Gericault, the Michelangelo gallery, the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and last but not least the Mona Lisa.

Wearing a dark suit and yellow moire tie, and followed by his wife, Obuchi stopped conscientiously in front of each of the museum's art splendours, nodding respectfully from behind his glasses.

There was no mistaking Obuchi however for an everyday tourist from Tokyo.Surrounded by dozensof Japanese officials whose mobile phones rang out in concert and by a squad of fidgety bodyguards, Obuchi was given a premier tour by Louvre curator Pierre Rosenberg and his top aides.

As he paced the halls, dozens of Japanese visitors stopped stunned and amazed, only to jump into action seconds later with a barrage of flash shots of the premier. After a quick perusal of Michelangelo's sculptures, the Japanese premier posed for the cameras in front of Delacroix's huge oil Liberty Leading the People.

The work is to be shipped to Tokyo in a fortnight as part of an exhibition opening February 25 to kick off the year of France in Japan, Rosenberg said. To enable the Obuchi couple to get a close glimpse of the Mona Lisa set behind its security screen, bodyguards pushed back ordinary tourists, prompting one Australian to complain: ``You should say excuse me!''

And what did Obuchi think of what is probably the world's most celebrated painting? ``Why is it so famous?'' Louvre Paintings Director Jean-PierreCusin reported him as saying.

``We don't know!'' Cusin said he replied.

And as the couple left the building one American tourist was left just as puzzled as to the reasons for the celebrity of the Japanese visitor. ``Who is this man?'', he asked a French officer.