Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, didn’t just welcome Donald Trump — she rolled out the imperial red carpet.
A full military guard, gold-leafed palace halls, and even “American rice with Japanese flair” set the stage.
Trump called it the dawn of a “beautiful friendship.”
The two leaders sealed a deal on rare earth minerals and promised a “new golden age” in US-Japan relations.
Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, went a step further — announcing she’d nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
“He’s a partner in a new era,” she declared. Trump, in turn, pledged “anything you want, any favors you need.”
Diplomacy And Delicacy
Behind the smiles, however, lies a delicate balancing act.
Trump wants Japan to open its markets wider — more US rice, soybeans, even cars.
Takaichi must protect her powerful farming and auto industries.
“She’ll have to walk a fine line,” said analyst Rintaro Nishimura. “Tone down her China stance, but keep Trump close.”
For now, the optics are golden — golf gifts, shared caps reading Japan is back, and talk of billion-dollar investments.
But beneath the pageantry, both leaders know this: alliances may glitter, but they still require grit.
