Q+A - Obama's first presidential tour of Asia

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama leaves on Thursday on his first Asian tour since becoming president on Jan. 20.

Here are some questions and answers about his travels and issues that might come up at each stop:

WHY IS OBAMA GOING TO JAPAN?

Obama's Nov. 13-14 visit should address uncertainties about how the staunch U.S. ally will relate to Washington under new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who has vowed to deepen Asian ties and steer a diplomatic course more independent of Washington.

Many Japanese also wonder if historic rival China's growing economic and military clout will affect relations between Washington and Tokyo, which mark the 50th anniversary of their security alliance next year. Obama picked Tokyo for a major address on the U.S. relationship with Asia.

One touchy issue is the future of a U.S. air base on Okinawa, which protesters want off the island and Washington wants moved to a different part of it. The issue threatens to stall a realignment of the 47,000 U.S. troops in Japan and sour defense ties. Obama is not expected to address the matter publicly, but is seen keeping to a hard U.S. line privately.

Washington also wants Japan to contribute to its war in Afghanistan somehow, after Hatoyama said he would not renew a mandate for Japanese ships on an Indian Ocean refueling mission in support of the conflict.