U.S. President Donald Trump received a warm welcome in Tokyo this week, wrapping up his Asia tour in Japan’s capital.
Upon arrival at the Akasaka Palace, President Trump was greeted by a fleet of U.S.-made cars, including one of his favorites, a Ford F-150. Trump was then offered up gifts by Japan’s new premier Sanae Takaichi, including a putter used by the late Shinzo Abe, the President’s former golfing buddy and the island nation’s late leader.
The putter was presented in a glass case alongside a gold-leaf golf ball and a bag signed by Japanese major winner Hideki Matsuyama. The club was one of many references to Trump’s close relationship with Abe, who was assassinated in 2022 while giving a speech in Nara in western Japan, as reported in The Dallas Express at the time.
Likely, Takaichi, a protege of Abe, hopes to establish a similar close bond with the current U.S. president.
“I think it has significant meaning,” said Masahiko Shibayama, a lawmaker who served as Abe’s aide during Trump’s first term, per Reuters.
“I believe the relationship of trust between two top leaders like this is certain to lead to the strengthening of the alliance,” he added.
As soon as Trump entered the palace in central Tokyo, discussions turned to Abe.
“He was a great friend of mine and a great friend of yours,” said Trump.
Takaichi held her first cabinet post in Abe’s first administration in 2006-2007. Later, Takaichi, who would become the country’s first female leader, was elevated to home minister in Abe’s second 2012-2020 term.
Takaichi thanked Trump for his “enduring friendship” with Abe and for hosting his widow, Akie Abe, at Mar-a-Lago after winning the election last year.
The PM’s words were translated into English by Sunao Takao, an interpreter who formerly worked under Abe and whom Trump once jokingly referred to as junior prime minister.
“He had a very close, warm and trusting relationship with Prime Minister Abe. I think that Prime Minister Takaichi’s close ties with late Prime Minister Abe set up this relationship for success,” said Mark Davidson, a former senior U.S. diplomat in Japan.
AloJapan.com