Washington (CNN) The visit to Washington Friday by Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe will be the second time President Donald Trump has sat down with the Japanese leader. The first was in November at Trump Tower, just 10 days after Trump's win and before he took the oath of office.

But it will be a first for Abe's wife, Akie, and first lady Melania Trump, who would traditionally play hostess to the spouse of the foreign leader, though the White House has yet to confirm if this will be the case.

Late Thursday night, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer tweeted that Melania Trump would welcome the Abes to Washington, but did not elaborate.

Tomorrow @POTUS and @FLOTUS will welcome Japan's Prime Minister Abe and his wife to Washington before all flying to Mar-a-Lago — Sean Spicer (@PressSec) February 10, 2017

The task of entertaining the wife or husband of a dignitary falls to the first lady, often in the form of visiting schools, or cultural monuments or having a luncheon or other small social event.

For Melania Trump, should she be Akie Abe's escort for the day in Washington, this will be the first time since the inauguration that her role as first lady will be on public display.

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