Trump ends his Asia tour in Japan after meeting with Sanae Takaichi

Accolades, Nobel Prize nominations and promises of foreign investment in the US, Japan’s Prime Minister-elect Sanae Takaichi rolled out the red carpet for Donald Trump on Tuesday.

Trump, for his part, praised Takaichi warmly, telling her the US would be there for “anything you want, any favors you need, anything … to help Japan.”

The two leaders signed a critical accord on mineral lands, as well as a document heralding a new “golden era” of US-Japan relations that reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to implementing agreements reached earlier, including the 15 percent tariff agreement agreed earlier this year.

The grace and venue also seemed special for the President of the United States.

A full military honor guard and orchestra welcomed Trump to the ornate Akasaka Palace, with vaulted ceilings and gold-encrusted walls not unlike what the president wants in the planned White House ballroom.

During the lunch, which a White House statement described as “American rice and American beef deliciously prepared with Japanese ingredients,” Trump congratulated Takaichi on becoming Japan’s first female prime minister.

Trump has long demanded that Japan buy rice from the US.

Takaichi also accompanied Trump aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, where they were greeted by thousands of jubilant US troops. Takaichi took the stage to praise what she called “the greatest alliance in the world” and promised to increase defense spending.

Trump has criticized Japan’s lack of defense spending in the past. In April this year, Trump criticized the security treaty with Japan as “one-sided”, saying: “We pay billions of dollars to protect them, but they pay nothing.”

Ahead of their meeting on Wednesday, Trump said he was sure he would have a “fantastic relationship” with Takaichi, who had a strong relationship with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a Trump favorite.

“She was a great ally and friend of Abe, who was a friend of mine… He was one of the best… I know they were very close and I think philosophically they were close, which is very good,” he told reporters as he flew to Japan from Malaysia on Tuesday.

Trump will spend a week in Asia and leave Japan for South Korea on Wednesday. He is expected to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping there on Thursday.

The meeting with Trump is seen as an important early test for Takaichi, who was elected prime minister by Japanese lawmakers earlier this month.

Both countries have long been allies, but maintaining relations with the volatile Trump, who has in the past appeared wavering on his commitment to Japan, is at the heart of the country’s foreign policy.

On Wednesday, Takaichi described Trump as a “partner in a new golden era” and praised his role in bringing peace to the Middle East. She announced that Japan would nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

She also presented Trump with a collection of golf-related gifts, according to Trump assistant Margot Martin.

These include: a golf bag signed by Hideki Matsuyama, the first male Japanese golfer to win a major golf championship, and a putter used by former Prime Minister Abe. They also signed two hats printed with the words: Japan is back.

In turn, Trump described her as a “close friend” and described the US alliance with Japan as a “beautiful friendship” that was “born from the ashes of a terrible war”.

The pleasantries have set a positive tone for the meetings so far, but behind the smiles and performance lies real pressure on Japan.

Trump wants greater access to Japan’s markets — especially autos, agriculture and technology. He pressured Japan to buy more American rice and soybeans and to open its market to American cars.

Tokyo is heavily dependent on exports and cannot afford a tariff fight, especially when it comes to the auto industry.

Automakers – the country’s biggest exporters to the US – face a 24% tariff and tens of billions of dollars in losses.

Tariffs are now down to 15%, in line with regional rivals such as South Korea.

During the working lunch, Takaichi presented Trump with a map showing the investments Japanese companies have made in the United States. And during his speech on the USS George Washington, Trump said Takaichi had told him earlier about Toyota’s plans to invest $10 billion in building plants “all over” the US.

But Takaichi also needs to protect local industries and does not want to anger key interest groups at home, such as the powerful agricultural lobby.

Tomohiko Taniguchi — a former special adviser to Shinzo Abe — said there were things Takaichi could use from Trump’s relationship with her late mentor Abe. He said it was important for Takaichi to be “straightforward and say directly what Japan’s national interests are and see where the national interests of these two nations overlap, always keeping in mind that the safety of Japan must be in the hands of the Japanese.”

But Takaichi won’t just have to balance Japan’s interests with its alliance with the US — she’ll also have to do so while maintaining the country’s all-important trade partnership with China.

Rintaro Nishimura, a senior fellow at Asia Group, said: “Takaichi will have to walk a very fine line, perhaps toning down some of her more hawkish tendencies towards China … but also reassuring Trump that the US-Japan relationship is paramount.”