In a report by Dajiyuan on October 28, 2025, it was stated that the President of the United States, Donald Trump (Donald Trump), has arrived in Japan for a three-day visit. On Monday (October 27), Trump met with Japanese Emperor Naruhito, and on Tuesday, he is scheduled to meet with Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi. This highly anticipated meeting is expected to cover a range of issues, with the close relationship between the two leaders and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also drawing attention.
Sanae Takaichi, 64, is a staunch conservative and Japan’s first female prime minister. Meeting Trump within about a week of taking office indicates the importance the United States places on Japan and Takaichi. For Takaichi, this meeting presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
Last Saturday, Takaichi had a conversation with Trump. She emphasized to President Trump that Japan is an indispensable partner to the United States in its strategy towards China and various other aspects. The two leaders reached a consensus to work together to elevate the Japan-U.S. alliance to new heights.
Trump also described the conversation with Takaichi as “very good.” After the call, he told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way from Malaysia to Japan, “She’s great, very beautiful… she’s very friendly.”
Trump and Takaichi are expected to meet in Tokyo later on Tuesday. Their talks are projected to cover topics such as tariffs, Indo-Pacific security, Japan’s defense spending, as well as issues concerning Taiwan and U.S.-China-Japan relations.
Takaichi, a trusted aide of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, maintains a close relationship with Trump, who emphasized their strong personal ties while expressing confidence in Takaichi’s leadership.
“I have heard a lot of unusual things,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday flying from Malaysia to Japan. “She’s a great ally and friend of Shinzo Abe, and Shinzo Abe is my friend.”
“I know they have a very close relationship, and I think, from a philosophical standpoint, that they are very close, and that’s good,” he added. “It’s very beneficial for Japan and the United States. I think she’ll do a great job.”
Takaichi also informed the press that during their call last Saturday, she “received very warm congratulations” from Trump. She also told Trump that enhancing the U.S.-Japan alliance is her top priority in foreign and security affairs.
Takaichi praised Trump’s efforts in brokering a ceasefire in Gaza and emphasized that Japan is a critical nation for the United States in its strategic dealings with China and the wider region.
“I find him to be a very cheerful and interesting person,” Takaichi said. “He also recognized me, and when sharing memories with Prime Minister Abe, he mentioned that he knew I was a politician greatly favored by Prime Minister Abe.”
Furthermore, she expressed gratitude to Trump for the “warm welcome” extended to Prime Minister Abe’s wife, Akie Abe, with plans for Trump to meet with Akie Abe during his time in Japan.
Widely seen as the ideological successor to Shinzo Abe, Takaichi aligns with Abe’s policies of amending Japan’s pacifist constitution and enhancing defense capabilities. Her economic policies largely reflect the “Abenomics” approach, focusing on fiscal expansion and monetary easing, in stark contrast to Thatcherite austerity measures. However, her firm demeanor and strict ideological stance echo that of her respected figure, Margaret Thatcher.
Domestically, Takaichi upholds staunch traditional views. According to the Associated Press, she opposes same-sex marriage, rejects allowing married couples to use different surnames, and supports the primogeniture of the Imperial Throne to be passed solely through male descendants.
Writer and Asian analyst Zhang Jiadun, in an interview with Fox News Digital, stated, “She (Takaichi) takes a hawkish stance towards China (the Chinese Communist Party), which is what is needed currently.”
“This will not unsettle President Trump—in fact, it will assist him in his talks with (Chinese Communist Party leader) Xi Jinping, as he can say, ‘Look, the alliance is strong and getting stronger,'” he said.
Zhang also noted that the meeting between Trump and Takaichi comes at a crucial time for regional stability. He added that under Takaichi’s leadership, the U.S.-Japan relationship will strengthen. “The relationship between the U.S. and Japan has been very good in the past, and I believe Takaichi will continue Japan’s policies, so this is very important.”
Both Trump and Takaichi hold firm stances against Beijing, particularly concerning Taiwan. Earlier this year, Takaichi visited Taiwan and called for “cooperation with Taiwan to address defense challenges,” which drew condemnation from Beijing as “dangerous provocation.”
Tensions between China and Japan had already escalated before Takaichi assumed office as Prime Minister. Chinese vessels had increased activities around the disputed Senkaku Islands (referred to as the Diaoyu Islands by China), and Japan’s 2022 Defense White Paper officially identified Communist China as the “biggest security threat” for the first time.
During her first press conference after taking office, Takaichi vowed to elevate the Japan-U.S. relationship to “new heights,” calling the Japan-U.S. alliance the “cornerstone of Japan’s foreign and security policy.” Ending her speech, she resolutely declared, “There is no time to stand still.”
Under former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s leadership, Japan had pledged to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027. Now, Takaichi aims to advance this goal to March 2026, urging Japan to “proactively promote fundamental strengthening of national defense capabilities” in her inaugural address to the parliament.
In a statement following her conversation with Trump, Takaichi emphasized to him, “Japan is an indispensable partner to the United States in its strategy towards China and Indo-Pacific strategies, and I am committed to continuing to advance a vision of a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ (FOIP) together.”
Trade issues may also pose a challenge. After months of negotiations between the U.S. and Japan, tariffs on Japanese goods were reduced from 25% to 15%, while Japan agreed to invest $550 billion in American industries. Despite these agreements, many details remain unclear, and it is expected that Takaichi will seek additional clarifications.
She has enlisted military veterans to assist her in tackling trade issues. Her new cabinet members include negotiator Akisawa Akihira, who led recent tariff negotiations, and several former assistants from the Shinzo Abe administration who have established good relationships with Trump.
“This sends a clear message domestically and abroad: she is trying to continue Abe’s approach rather than Kishida or Ishiba’s approach,” said Rintaro Nishimura, Senior Assistant at the Tokyo office of the consulting company Asia Group, to CNN.
Energy issues are also likely to be addressed. Japan still imports about 10% of its liquefied natural gas from Russia, a dependency the U.S. hopes to reduce. Japan has pledged to decrease reliance on Russia, but warns that a sudden cut-off could threaten its energy security.
Minister of Economic Affairs Akihira has indicated that the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is compiling project lists in the chip and energy fields to meet investment targets in the U.S. Several Japanese companies have shown interest in investing in the U.S., according to Akisawa.
Last Saturday, President Trump was asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One en route to Malaysia if Takaichi Sanae might eventually try to renegotiate with the United States. Trump replied, “She might, I’m open… we have a great relationship with Japan, and we will continue to have a very, very good relationship with her. So, let’s see what happens.”
As the U.S. and China engage in an intense rare earths showdown, increased rare earth cooperation between the U.S. and Japan is likely one of the topics discussed by the two leaders.
According to the Nikkei, U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass stated at the Mount Fuji Dialogue on Saturday, October 25, that with China expanding export controls on rare earth products, a portion of the $550 billion promised Japanese investment in the U.S. “will be used to revive and develop U.S. mining and ore processing industries.”
Glass criticized China’s broad export controls on rare earths and related technology in his speech, calling it a tactic “to choke and control the global supply chain.”
“The good news is that the U.S. and Japan are seeking solutions to this unsustainable situation,” he said, mentioning the $550 billion U.S. investment included in the trade agreement reached with Japan in July. He stated that part of these investments will be used to develop mines and minerals processing in the U.S.