TOKYO - Prime Minister Takaiichi’s first face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Trump drew high praise from officials at the Prime Minister’s Office, who described the atmosphere as friendly and open. According to government sources, the two leaders addressed each other by their first names, “Sanae” and “Donald,” a gesture that one senior official called “120 points,” underscoring the success of the meeting.
Officials said Takaiichi appeared relieved and satisfied with the outcome, describing the talks as “very successful.” The greatest achievement, they noted, was the level of personal rapport and trust Takaiichi was able to build with Trump — a crucial goal for the Japanese side, which had prioritized deepening mutual confidence over announcing new policy initiatives.
A symbol of this newfound closeness was the use of first names. Trump’s continued habit of calling former Prime Minister Abe “Shinzo” has long been viewed as a hallmark of their close relationship. To replicate this dynamic, the Japanese side reportedly made extensive preparations to encourage a similar exchange of “Sanae” and “Donald” during the meeting.
Another notable aspect was Trump’s repeated emphasis on the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance — a move that officials described as “unusual” and one of the meeting’s key achievements.
The effort to win Trump’s favor included a personal decision by Takaiichi to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize, following the precedent set by former Prime Minister Abe in 2019. Multiple government sources confirmed that Takaiichi personally handed Trump a recommendation letter, reaffirming her commitment to maintaining goodwill. Senior officials noted that “Trump’s contributions to stability in Gaza have been significant,” reflecting positively on the nomination gesture.
Behind the scenes, the final and most delicate point of negotiation was arranging a meeting between Trump and the families of Japanese abductees. Government sources said Trump remained cautious about the meeting even after arriving in Japan, with one official remarking that “its realization depends entirely on Takaiichi’s diplomacy.”
Still, officials cautioned that “with Trump, one can never let their guard down until the very end.” As the former U.S. president remains in Japan until tomorrow, close attention is being paid to any further exchanges between the two leaders.
Source: FNN
