Sanae Takaichi made history last week as Japan’s first female prime minister. Now, she faces a significant challenge: meeting President Trump for the first time. Unlike him, she isn’t a golfer and isn’t known for a love of hamburgers.
However, during her upcoming Tokyo talks with Mr. Trump, Ms. Takaichi holds a strategic advantage. She plans to highlight her close ties to the late Shinzo Abe, her political mentor, who notably cultivated an exceptionally strong relationship with Mr. Trump during his tenure.
According to Mira Rapp-Hooper, a partner at the Asia Group, Ms. Takaichi will aim to ‘cloak herself in the mantle of Abe’ to convince Trump that she is a reliable and loyal ally in Asia.
Ms. Takaichi is expected to urge Mr. Trump to reinforce the long-standing security alliance between Japan and the U.S., and to intensify efforts against China’s growing regional power. She may also push for greater Japanese control over a $550 billion fund committed for investment in the United States.
Conversely, Mr. Trump will likely aim to retain significant influence over the allocation of this fund. He’s also anticipated to pressure Ms. Takaichi for accelerated defense spending, despite Japan’s prior commitments to substantially increase its military budget.
Many officials and analysts view Ms. Takaichi, a staunch conservative, as Japan’s best hope for fostering a strong rapport with Mr. Trump and mitigating his more confrontational tendencies.
Shinsuke J. Sugiyama, who served as Japan’s ambassador to Washington during Mr. Trump’s first term, noted that Ms. Takaichi, despite Mr. Abe’s endorsement in her unsuccessful 2021 leadership bid, now has a ‘golden chance’ to revitalize U.S.-Japan relations.
Sugiyama added, ‘She has diligently observed how Prime Minister Abe interacted with President Trump and learned valuable lessons. If they can begin their discussions by acknowledging Shinzo Abe’s significant legacy, I believe they will find common ground on nearly every issue.’
An image shows President Trump and Shinzo Abe at a sumo tournament in Tokyo in 2019. Abe was widely regarded as a skilled diplomat in his dealings with Trump.
During his previous visit to Japan, Mr. Trump was treated to elaborate ceremonies by Mr. Abe, including attending a sumo wrestling tournament and becoming the first international leader to meet the then-newly enthroned emperor.
Mr. Trump’s current visit begins at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, where he is scheduled to meet Emperor Naruhito. Later, he will share lunch with Ms. Takaichi at Akasaka Palace, a state guest house, and then address American troops at a nearby naval base, emphasizing Japan’s role as host to over 50,000 U.S. military personnel.
Mirroring Mr. Abe’s stance, Ms. Takaichi has advocated for strengthening Japan’s military, moving past its post-war pacifist limitations. In a move to demonstrate her commitment to Mr. Trump’s calls for increased allied defense spending, she announced Friday that Japan would reach 2% of its GDP on defense by next spring, two years ahead of schedule.
Mr. Trump’s consistent distancing from traditional allies in Europe and Asia has deeply concerned Japanese officials, who are acutely aware of growing security threats from China, North Korea, and Russia.
During her meeting with Mr. Trump, Ms. Takaichi is anticipated to voice concerns about China’s continued military expansion in the South China Sea. A staunch supporter of Taiwan’s sovereignty – an island China claims as its own – she previously visited Taiwan in the spring, meeting President Lai Ching-te and advocating for enhanced security cooperation.
The strained relationship between China and Japan was highlighted when President Xi did not publicly congratulate Ms. Takaichi following her election as prime minister.
An image shows a military exercise in Tokunoshima, Japan, in 2023. Japan is accelerating its plans to boost defense spending to 2% of its gross domestic output.
Jeffrey W. Hornung, a Japan expert at the RAND research group in Washington, believes Ms. Takaichi will seek explicit confirmation of Mr. Trump’s continued commitment to Taiwan’s security.
Hornung emphasized, ‘Japanese officials are eager to understand the American strategy for the Indo-Pacific region.’
Trade discussions are high on the agenda for Mr. Trump’s visit. In July, Japan accepted a 15% tariff on its exports – less than initially threatened – by agreeing to infuse $550 billion into the U.S. economy. Both nations are currently finalizing the details of how Japan will allocate these funds through investments, loans, and guarantees.
Analysts suggest that beyond economic matters, Ms. Takaichi hopes to forge a lasting personal connection with Mr. Trump, reminiscent of Mr. Abe’s approach. A key concern for some experts is that Japan could find itself in a precarious position if Mr. Trump achieves a favorable trade resolution with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who he is scheduled to meet later this week in South Korea.
Additional reporting was provided by Kiuko Notoya and Hisako Ueno.