Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi returned to Tokyo on Saturday after a brief visit to Washington. Reaction in Japan has been mixed, with some praising her handling of US President Donald Trump and others criticizing what they saw as overly deferential behavior. The visit has also sparked a wave of online memes, including clips of her dancing at the White House.
Takaichi’s main goal was to avoid making concrete security commitments regarding the conflict in Iran while simultaneously keeping Trump on board. After greeting him with a hug, her strategy was to use flattery, telling him, “I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, that can achieve peace across the world.” She also described his son Barron as “a good-looking gentleman” who had clearly inherited his looks from his parents.
Prominent Japanese diplomat Hitoshi Tanaka wasn’t impressed. “Prime Minister Takaichi’s behavior toward President Trump is bizarre and embarrassing,” he posted on X. “Given that this is a relationship between two heads of state, if she doesn’t exercise some restraint in her fawning, it will only provoke disgust in those watching… Hugging is fine, but as a form of greeting, it must be done with restraint.”
Takaichi in Spotlight After Trump’s Pearl Harbor Remark
The tone of the meeting, however, drew attention for more than just Takaichi’s approach. At one point, Trump made an awkward remark referencing Pearl Harbor, a comment that quickly drew criticism online. When a Japanese reporter asked why US allies in Europe and Asia, including Japan, had not been informed in advance of the attack on Iran, he replied with an attempt at humor.
“One thing you don’t want to signal too much, you know, when we go in, we went in very hard, and we didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise,” he said. “Who knows better about surprise than Japan?” As the room laughed, he then added, “Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?” Takaichi looked startled; her eyes widened, and she shifted in her chair.
Some praised her for not reacting. Others, however, criticized her for not speaking up. “While Trump’s bad joke is nothing new, Takaichi — who always talks about ‘national heroes’ and such — didn’t even bother to retort, frown, or shrug; she simply ignored him,” posted former Niigata Governor Ryuichi Yoneyama on X. “Ultimately, this shows that the ‘pride of Japan’ touted by conservatives is for domestic consumption, and they cannot say a single thing to the United States.”
Images of Takaichi’s Washington visit published by The White House
Praise and Public Support for Takaichi After Washington Visit
Shiori Yamao, a former member of the Japanese House of Representatives, saw things differently. “The Pearl Harbor issue was not the kind of matter that could be resolved on the spot,” she wrote on X. “Adopting a calm attitude of letting him speak his mind was also the right call… The result was that Japan successfully managed its relationship with Trump.”
Yamao also complimented Takaichi on her diplomacy skills. “She refrained from single-handedly accusing the US of violating international law, yet she upheld the line between domestic and international law, maintaining a good relationship with Trump, and ultimately protecting Japan’s national interests. Given the reality of Japan’s security environment — which relies on the United States led by the unique figure of Trump — I believe this judgment was correct.”
Polling suggests a large share of the Japanese public agrees with Yamao’s views. A recent Yomiuri Shimbun poll found that 69% of respondents approved of the summit. Meanwhile, 82% said they supported Takaichi’s statement that Japan would respond within the bounds of its laws to help stabilize the situation in Iran. According to the survey, support for the Takaichi Cabinet remains high at 71%.
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AloJapan.com