Shinzo Abe enjoyed a combined six years in office before he had to deal with a visit by President Donald Trump to Tokyo. Newly installed prime minister Sanae Takaichi had just over six days.
That’s one reason why Takaichi reached for her mentor’s playbook for dealing with the US president — one that calls for flattery, deference and gold-plated gifts. And it seems to have worked.
Whereas Takaichi’s predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, played for a draw at his White House meeting in February, this encounter was redolent of Abe’s best moments. The late leader, assassinated in 2022, crafted a method of dealing with Trump in his first term that many executives and world leaders have adopted on his return to office.
Takaichi’s international experience is relatively shallow; she’s never held roles such as foreign or defense minister. But that didn’t seem to trip her up, even if her first international guest is the world’s most important. Trump even hailed Takaichi as a woman set to be “one of the greatest prime ministers” and offered her “anything you want.”
It caps a superb first week for the premier, who not only claimed some of the highest poll numbers ever for a new Japanese leader, but also saw the Nikkei 225 Stock Average reach 50,000 for the first time on Monday, boosted by expectations for her government. (Having been late to begin Tuesday morning’s meeting because the two leaders were watching the start of the World Series game, she’ll also be pleased by Shohei Ohtani’s two home runs that helped power the Los Angeles Dodgers to a series lead.)
Japan tends to enjoy the pageantry of a presidential visit. Public broadcaster NHK interrupted regular programming to show live TV footage of Air Force One landing at Haneda Airport and the motorcade zooming through Tokyo streets. Crowds assembled in front of the Imperial Palace for a glimpse.
Trump must love coming to Japan, too. The gold-plated ballrooms of Akasaka Palace, Japan’s state guest house, seem to recall his preferences in interior decoration. Unlike trips to some countries, he isn’t met with large protest marches or offensive balloons — just gifts and well-planned events. Likewise, the 2019 visit that recognized his fondness for martial arts by having the president present a special trophy to the winner of a sumo tournament.
Abe was the architect of this approach. Trump told Takaichi that the late leader was “a great friend” who had spoken about her before his death. (In a strange coincidence, the long-delayed trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of shooting Abe at a stump speech, began in Nara Tuesday.)
Abe famously developed his relationship with Trump on the golf course. Takaichi’s love of drumming and motorbikes is well documented, but she’s not known for her appearances on the links. Yet she was able to call on those memories by gifting the president Abe’s putter, along with a gold-plated golf ball and a case signed by Hideki Matsuyama, Japan’s most successful pro who played with Trump in 2017.
There were MAGA-style hats that the two leaders signed, emblazoned with “Japan Is Back” — a phrase used by Abe and since adopted as a slogan by Takaichi. There were promises of Japanese fireworks and 250 cherry trees for America’s Semiquincentennial next year. Above all, there was a pledge to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Some might find this deference cringe-worthy. But as a resource-poor nation still dependent on US security, Japan leans more than most on diplomacy. And it works: It’s clear that the president values personal relationships above traditional norms, and the trappings of power above all.
For Japan, these efforts cost nothing, and Takaichi can invoke the memory of her mentor in a way that Ishiba, who was ideologically opposed, never could. World leaders have found it unwise to challenge Trump in public, and even one as experienced as Abe — hailed as a “lion tamer” for this ability to handle difficult customers — was happy to be deferential in public. Behind closed doors, he said he often had more pointed exchanges.
Of course, a good start means little in the long run; Ishiba’s first meeting didn’t prevent relations souring amid the trade war. Japan’s frequent changes in leadership don’t help build the personal ties that Trump craves. That’s why Takaichi needs to capitalize on her successful first week and ensure that she sticks around long enough to make a difference.
This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.
Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Japan and the Koreas. He previously led the breaking news team in North Asia, and was the Tokyo deputy bureau chief.
Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Bloomberg news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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