U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Japan on Oct. 27 to meet with the U.S. ally’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as part of his Asia tour following his appearance at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Malaysia.
The meeting is key to maintaining trade relations and diplomacy between the two nations. Takaichi took office on Oct. 21, becoming the first woman to lead Japan.
Trump received a royal welcome in the latest leg of his five-day Asia trip, which he hopes will culminate in the striking of a truce-making trade deal with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.
He touched down in the evening, shook hands with officials on the tarmac, and then boarded a helicopter for a night tour of Tokyo.
His motorcade was later seen entering the Imperial Palace grounds, where he met with Japanese Emperor Naruhito.
Trump spent Oct. 26 in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, where he participated in the regional summit of Southeast Asian leaders. He later announced that deals had been struck with four Southeast Asian countries in attendance.
The U.S. president was accompanied on Air Force One by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. On the plane, he spoke with journalists about what had been achieved at ASEAN and what he anticipated in Tokyo.
‘Great Friendship’
Trump said he would focus on the “great friendship” between the United States and Japan during his visit, noting that he had heard “phenomenal things” about Takaichi, a conservative who is currently backed by a fragile coalition.
He noted her closeness with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in 2022 at a campaign rally and with whom Trump had enjoyed good relations. He referred to Abe as “a great man” and one of his “favorites.”
In addition to trade, security issues in the region are likely to be on the agenda, including freedom of movement in the South China Sea and the future of Taiwan, both of which have been under increasing threat from the Chinese regime.
Multibillion-Dollar Investment Package
Japan and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding on a $550 billion U.S.-bound investment package, with plans for the deal to be completed by 2029, covering sectors such as technology, metals, pharmaceuticals, energy, and shipbuilding.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the Japanese investment package, agreed to in Tokyo’s tariff deal with Washington, is not expected to affect the foreign exchange market and will focus on areas such as power and pipelines that are fundamental to national security and “have virtually no risk.”
In an interview with the Nikkei business daily published on Oct. 27, Lutnick said 10 to 12 Japanese companies involved in industries such as power supply and shipbuilding are preparing to explore investment opportunities in the United States, with the first project expected to be identified as early as the end of 2025.
Lutnick also said tariffs on Japanese-made semiconductors and pharmaceuticals will remain at 15 percent.
On Oct. 26 in Kuala Lumpur, Trump participated in a ceremonial signing of an expanded cease-fire between Thailand and Cambodia, which had border clashes in July in a long-standing dispute over the ownership of ancient temples.
Trump played a role in diplomatic negotiations by threatening to withhold trade agreements from both Thailand and Cambodia unless they reached an agreement to cease fighting.
The summit was an opportunity for Trump to assert U.S. influence in a key region, often regarded as a political pivot point between Washington and Beijing, for the first time since his return to office.
Deals and Diplomacy
On the sidelines of the summit, negotiators from China and the United States worked to advance trade talks, with the potential for an agreement that could reduce tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Trump’s diplomatic tour of Asia will culminate on Oct. 30, when he is set to meet Xi in South Korea.
As he left Kuala Lumpur, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social: “Just leaving Malaysia, a great and very vibrant Country. Signed major Trade and Rare Earth Deals, and yesterday, most importantly, signed the Peace Treaty between Thailand and Cambodia. NO WAR! Millions of lives saved. Such an honor to have gotten this done. Now, off to Japan!!!”
After Trump landed in Kuala Lumpur, video footage showed him on the tarmac dancing along with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at a greeting ceremony for the U.S. president. It featured a group of performers representing different ethnic groups.
Like Trump, Takaichi is in the middle of a very busy week, as she also attended the ASEAN Summit on Oct. 25 for meetings before returning to Japan to meet Trump.
She will head to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum at the end of the week.
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