NEWLY installed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faces her first major diplomatic test as she welcomes US President Donald Trump to Tokyo on Monday, hoping to build a personal rapport that could ease trade tensions between the two allies.
Takaichi, who became Japan’s first woman to hold the office last week, is reportedly exploring symbolic gestures to strengthen ties — including a proposal for Japan’s government to purchase a fleet of Ford F-150 trucks, a move that Trump has already praised.
“She has good taste,” Reuters cited Trump telling reporters aboard Air Force One. “That’s a hot truck.”
The two leaders earlier spoke by phone during Trump’s flight to Asia on Saturday, where Takaichi highlighted her credentials as a protégé of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a close ally of Trump during his first term.
She also congratulated the US president on brokering the Gaza ceasefire that secured the release of hostages held by Hamas.
“I thought (Trump) is a very cheerful and fun person,” she told Japanese media. “He well recognizes me and said he remembers me as a politician whom (former) Prime Minister Abe really cared about. And I told the president that I extremely look forward to welcoming him in Tokyo.”
Trump departs for Japan
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump departed Malaysia for Japan this morning, marking the end of his one-day visit to the 47th Asean Summit and related meetings.
He arrived at Kompleks Bunga Raya, Kuala Lumpur International Airport at approximately 9.55am in “The Beast.”
Following a farewell handshake with Malaysian officials waiting for his arrival, Trump boarded the official presidential aircraft, Air Force One, at 10.05am.
The president also spent a few moments watching the performance and clapped in a show of his appreciation before walking up to his plane.
Trump's journey continues with further diplomatic engagements in Asia.
As Trump is enroute to mee Takaichi, Reuters reported today that beneath the cordial tone lies a strategic effort to reset Japan’s trade relationship with Washington. Trump has urged allies to buy more American goods and invest heavily in US industries, including energy and semiconductor production.
Tokyo’s previous administration pledged US$550 billion in US investments in September, prompting Trump to reduce proposed tariffs on Japanese exports from 25% to 15%.
Japan’s economy and trade minister, Ryosei Akazawa, said his ministry is preparing a list of investment projects focused on computer chips and energy. “As far as I know, I’m hearing that there are a number of Japanese companies that are showing interest,” he said on Friday.
Reports in Japan suggest Takaichi’s administration may import Ford F-150 trucks for official government use, such as road inspections, though concerns have been raised over their suitability for Japan’s narrow streets. Nikkei also reported that Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda could announce plans to import American-made Toyota models back to Japan during a business dinner with Trump.
For Trump, seeing Ford trucks in Tokyo’s streets would represent a symbolic victory in his push to open Japan’s auto market, which remains dominated by domestic manufacturers.
“I think she’s going to be great,” Trump said of Takaichi. “She’s a great friend of Mr. Abe who was a great man.”
While Takaichi’s connection to Abe may endear her to Trump, analysts caution that aligning too closely with her late mentor could limit her ability to define her own leadership style.
“Because it’s Takaichi’s first diplomatic engagement, I think she wants to start with sort of a bang,” said Rintaro Nishimura of The Asia Group. “Succeeding the Abe-line rhetoric is definitely going to be part of this engagement, although some also suggest that leaning too heavily on the Abe line might not exactly be good for her for creating her own kind of portfolio.”
Trump will first meet Japanese Emperor Naruhito on Monday before holding talks with Takaichi on Tuesday. He is then scheduled to deliver a speech aboard the USS *George Washington* aircraft carrier and attend a dinner with Japanese business leaders, ahead of his departure for South Korea on Wednesday for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. - October 27, 2025
