Japan's new leader faces an early test: Winning over Trump

Ms Sanae Takaichi, who last week became the first woman to lead Japan as prime minister, has never met US President Donald Trump. She does not play golf, Mr Trump's favoured sport, nor is she known to share his love of hamburgers.

- Javier C. Hernandez

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the 28th Asean-Japan Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 26. The new Japanese leader is seen by some officials and analysts as Japan's best shot at building chemistry with US President Donald Trump and warding off his punishing instincts.

(ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO)

But when Mr Trump arrived in Tokyo on Oct 27 for a state visit, Ms Takaichi will have another card to play as she tries to win reassurance from him on trade and security.

She is expected to emphasise her connection to Mr Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister assassinated in 2022, who was Ms Takaichi's political mentor and who forged a closer bond with Mr Trump than perhaps any other world leader.

"She will be looking to cloak herself in the mantle of Abe to persuade Trump that she is his woman in Asia and a steadfast partner that he can count on," said Dr Mira Rapp-Hooper, a partner at The Asia Group, a strategic advisory firm.

Ms Takaichi will likely try to persuade Mr Trump to reinvest in the decades-long security alliance with Japan and to redouble efforts to counter China's rising influence in the region.

She might seek to strengthen Tokyo's oversight of a US$550 billion (S$714 billion) fund that Japan has agreed to invest in the United States.