Foreign Pool Report #1 Background on Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi

Good morning and Ohayo Gozaimasu,

I am Mineko Tokito Abe and I am your foreign pooler for the visit of Japanese Prime Minister, Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae (tah-kah-EE-chee sah-NAH-eh).

*TAKAICHI is the Prime Minister's family name and SANAE is her given name. In 2019, Japan decided to change the way Japanese names are written in English by placing the family name first, as it is traditionally written in Japanese, Korean and Chinese. This is why you will see the surname-given name order, especially for government officials in their official capacity.

To note, Takaichi is her maiden name which she has retained professionally throughout her political career. She is married to a former LDP lawmaker who legally took her name when they remarried in 2021.

Today's schedule is as follows:

8:00AM The President participates in Executive Time

11:00AM The President participates in a Greeting with the Prime Minister of Japan

11:15AM The President participates in a Bilateral Meeting

3:00PM The President participates in a Policy Meeting

7:00PM The President participates in a Greeting with the Prime Minister of Japan

7:15PM The President participates in a Dinner with the Prime Minister of Japan

Prime Minister Takaichi arrived at Andrews AFB last night and was greeted by Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley and the Ambassador of Japan to the United States Yamada Shigeo among others. Also seen interpreting for PM Takaichi on the tarmac was a familiar face, Takao Sunao, the Director of Status of U.S. Forces Agreement Division who also acted as interpreter for the late PM Abe, earning him the moniker "little Prime Minister" by President Trump. Mr. Takao also accompanied PM Ishiba during his February 2025 visit to Washington, DC and also interpreted for the first meeting between PM Takaichi and President Trump in Tokyo last October.

Takaichi is presumably staying at the Blair House as noted by the Japanese flag flying outside. There are no other U.S. Japan flags displayed outside as far as your pooler noticed as she was coming in, but that could be attributed to the construction around Lafayette Square.

As of now, the Japanese side has not released their attendee information, but several ministers, namely Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa, Minister of Foreign Affairs Motegi, and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan Ozaki have posted on X that they would be accompanying the Prime Minister.

Initially, there was a bilateral lunch on the docket but it was canceled to make room for more discussions, according to Japanese government sources.

Summit Scene-Setter:

This is Takaichi's first visit to the White House in her capacity as Prime Minister since taking office in October, 2025.

She is the third publicly announced premier to visit the White House (following Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit on March 3rd and the Taoiseach of Ireland on March 17th) since the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated military operations against the Iranian regime on February 28th. She is the first leader of the countries encouraged to (and subsequently discouraged to) send ships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz via Truth Social post to meet with President Trump.

To date, Prime Minister Takaichi has refrained from making statements directly supporting the US-Israeli joint strikes on Iran, though she has condemned Iran on its counter-strikes on neighboring countries that led to civilian casualties.

During a parliamentary committee session on March 2nd, she cautiously offered that the Japanese government could not make a legal assessment yet because it "did not possess detailed information, including whether this was a measure for self-defense." In the same session, she pledged to hold "candid talks" with President Trump during her March visit.

When an opposition leader asked about the administration's stance on the conflict during a subsequent session on March 9th, she maintained that it was still "difficult" for Japan to make a definitive legal assessment, as it was still "not in a position to fully grasp the detailed facts of the matter." She added that she would "engage in thorough discussions" with President Trump on Iran.

On March 16th, she said that while Japan had not yet received a formal request to take part in escort activities, "no decision had been made whatsoever regarding the dispatch of escort vessels." She added that Japan was "currently examining what Japan can do independently and what is possible within the legal framework."

*Her above remarks were mistranslated and widely circulated in English-language social media as Japan having rejected a U.S. request for deployment, when in fact, while Japan currently does not plan to dispatch naval vessels to escort ships in the Middle East, the matter is still under active consideration. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara subsequently said the viral posts "did not reflect the Government of Japan's position"

*Although Japan has acutting-edge mine-sweeping maritime force, its Pacifist constitution only allows for them to be deployed after active conflict has ended or if an ally is under attack and this poses an existential threat to Japan. In that case, Japan can exercise a limited right of collective self-defense. The Japanese government currently maintains that this conflict does not meet the criteria.

*However, Takaichi has said that Japan is "exploring other legally permissible options, which could include intelligence-gathering activities." There is precedent for this when, "in 2019, Japan declined a U.S. request for escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz, but dispatched a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer in 2020 to areas near the strait to monitor vessels that passed through areas close by."

Her remarks to Parliament on the 16th came after President Trump urged China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz to secure the shipping route in a March 14 Truth Social Post.

That same day, Japan began to release about 80 million barrels from its strategic oil reserves in order to mitigate energy supply disruptions and to stabilize price volatility. Japan relies on the Middle East for more than 90% of its crude oil imports. Since roughly 70% of that passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a prolonged blockade would severely affect its energy security and economic stability.

On March 15th (Japan's 16th), President Trump upped the ante, now "demanding" that countries heavily reliant on Middle Eastern crude should join the US in "policing the straits." Reports began circulating that the Trump administration was planning to announce a "maritime task force" composed of a coalition of the willing that would jointly escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, although specifics such as "whether those operations would begin before or after hostilities end" were still under discussion.

On March 16th, President Trump went further, listing Japan as one of the countries with high dependence on the Hormuz Strait to deliver their oil exports and "strongly encouraged" them to "come help with the strait" and to "get involved quickly and with great enthusiasm." He went on to say that "it always bothered (him) that we're protecting" but not being reimbursed for the US's efforts and that countries critically reliant on Middle Eastern oil should be "thanking the US" for striking Iran. He expressed disappointment that countries like Japan with a large US troop presence were not going to be there "if it ever comes time to defend us."

On March 17th, just as Japan began "actively examining" whether a JMSDF deployment was "within the bounds of what is legally possible," President Trump fired off his Truth, stating that Japan and other countries' assistance was "no longer need(ed) or desir(ed)."

On March 18th in Japan, hours before Takaichi was set to depart for the United States, she repeated that "no decision had been made on the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces" but that Japan would "maintain close communication with relevant countries, including the United States, to carefully assess the situation and consider necessary measures within the bounds of the law." She looked to "clearly convey our country's position and respond appropriately in the national interest" but that she intended to "make clear what Japan can and cannot do" in the Middle East.

In her final press conference before heading to the airport, Takaichi said, while her "top priority is the early de-escalation of the situation in Iran...when I talk to President Trump, I intend to confirm that our countries will reinforce their relations across a wide spectrum of fields, such as security and the economy, including economic security. I also want Japan and the United States to confirm with each other our firm commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, which is a pillar of Japan's diplomacy. I will now head off to my visit."

In the early morning hours of March 18th, President Trump posted, "I wonder what would happen if we “finished off” what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called “Strait?” That would get some of our non-responsive “Allies” in gear, and fast!!! President DJT"

Shortly before boarding the Japanese Air Force One, Takaichi posted on X, "From now, I will be leaving for Washington, D.C. in the United States. As the security environment surrounding our country becomes increasingly severe, I will confirm with President Trump the unwavering bond between Japan and the United States and further promote cooperation across a wide range of areas, such as security and the economy, including economic security. I will also discuss the increasingly tense situation surrounding Iran.”

The White House X account last night shared a NY Post article with the headline, "US allies need to get a grip--step up and help open the Strait of Hormuz" with "US allies need to get a grip" highlighted in yellow.

On the 19th, a joint statement was issued from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan on the Strait of Hormuz.

Topics Other than Iran that May Be Discussed During the Bilateral Meeting:

Takaichi is expected to announce Japan's intentions to join the "Golden Dome" missile defense initiative. The project "envisions expanding existing ground‑based defenses such as interceptor missiles with more experimental space‑based elements, meant to detect, track and potentially counter incoming threats from orbit." Tokyo seeks to cooperate closely with the U.S. on the joint development of "glide phase interceptors" which would neutralize Chinese and Russian-made hypersonic glide vehicles.

It has also been reported that the two governments are in the final stages of negotiations to increase U.S. crude oil production in Alaska through Japanese investment with plans to jointly stockpile the surplus output in Japan. Amid soaring crude oil prices following Iran's de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the proposed move aims to stabilize prices while helping to diversify Japan's oil sources away from reliance on the Middle East. The project would potentially be a part of Japan's $550 billion investment package, a huge component of the trade deal Japan struck with the U.S. last summer.

Japan and the U.S. are also expected to announce an agreement on the joint development of rare earths, lithium and copper. "The Japan-U.S. Critical Minerals Project" will promote four projects in the United States involving Mitsubishi Materials and Mitsui & Co. The project aims to strengthen supply chains and reduce reliance on China for the procurement of critical minerals for both Japan and the United States.

The two nations are also expected to finalize agreement on a $100 million joint project in shipbuilding, which would allow them to "cooperate in utilizing intelligence and robotics technologies as well as worker training."

The two leaders are also anticipated to address enhancing cooperation in economic security. This could include talks on strategic collaboration to deep sea mine rare earth resources off of Japan's Minamitorishima island as well as a reconfirmation of cooperation for a "U.S.-led trade bloc initiative on supply chains for key minerals."

The two governments may also issue a joint statement on investments in the U.S. energy sector totalling $73 billion, including the construction of next-generation small modular reactors (SMRs) in the U.S. The flagship SMR project is scheduled to be built by a joint venture between Hitachi and GE Vernova in Tennessee and other locations with Japan investing up to $40 billion.

Takaichi is a strong proponent of FOIP "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" and will likely look to reaffirm commitment with the U.S. to advance the FOIP.

Takaichi may bring up the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. Resolving the long-standing abduction issue has been a top priority of her government, and she may want to refresh President Trump's memory about meeting the families of the abducted for the third time last October.

A note for photographers: Takaichi may be wearing a small rectangular blue ribbon pin on her left lapel, which is a symbol of the campaign calling for the rescue of all abduction victims held by North Korea. The color symbolizes the "blue of the Sea of Japan" that separates Japan and North Korea, and the blue sky that connects the abductees with their families back in Japan. The other pin, which is her "legislators badge," is round and reddish-purple with a gold chrysanthemum center, showing that she is a member of the House of Representatives.

Past In-Person and Telephonic Exchanges:

President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi have spoken on the phone and have met in-person in their current capacities during the following occasions:

In-Person Meeting:

October 28th, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan (welcome ceremony, World Series watching interlude, bilateral, signing ceremony, meeting with families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea, working lunch, visit to USS George Washington and reception and dinner with business leaders)

President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi hit it off well in their first in person meeting, bonding over baseball and shared memories of the late Prime Minister Abe. President Trump said at the time that the two had become "very close friends," promising that "anything you want, any favors you need, anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there." Takaichi in turn presented President Trump with a variety of gifts including a putter that had belonged to Prime Minister Abe as well as a map of places in the US that the Japanese planned to invest in.

Phone Calls:

October 25th, 2025: Congratulatory call on election win

November 25th, 2025: Call to "exchange views on strengthening the Japan-U.S. Alliance and the situation and various challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region"

January 2nd, 2026: Call in which "President Trump extended an invitation to Prime Minister TAKAICHI to visit the United States"

President Trump's Truth Social Posts on PM Takaichi:

October 6th, 2025: "Japan has just elected its first female Prime Minister, a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength..."

October 30th, 2025: Video montage of Japan visit: "I am more confident than ever that the friendship between the United States and Japan is strong—It's thriving, it's prosperous, and it will soon be greater than ever before!🇺🇸🇯🇵"

November 5th, 2025: Video message: "It was my Great Honor to meet with Sanae Takaichi, the wonderful new Prime Minister of Japan!"

February 5th, 2026: "Prime Minister Takaichi is someone who deserves powerful recognition for the job she and her Coalition are doing and, therefore, as President of the United States of America, it is my Honor to give a Complete and Total Endorsement of her..."

February 8th, 2026: "Congratulations to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her Coalition on a LANDSLIDE Victory in today’s very important Vote..."

PM Takaichi's Posts on President Trump:

October 6th, 2025: I was very pleased to receive such warm words of congratulations from @realDonaldTrump...

October 27th, 2025: Welcome to Japan,

@realDonaldTrump

!..

October 28th, 2025: My sincere appreciation to President Trump for his friendship...

October 28th, 2025: With my wonderful ally and friend, @realDonaldTrump!

October 28th, 2025: I visited Yokosuka with President Trump...

January 27th, 2026: I am truly excited to work together with

@realDonaldTrump

to build a brighter future for the Japan–U.S. Alliance

February 8th, 2026: I look forward to visiting the White House this spring...

Some Events and Announcements Prior to and Pertaining to the Bilateral Meeting:

On March 10th, Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi and Secretary Hegseth held a telephone conference to discuss the situation in Iran.

On March 15th, Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi and Secretary Hegseth once again held a telephone conference to discuss the situation in Iran, with Secretary Hegseth stating that "the recent situation in the Middle East does not entail any changes to the posture of U.S. Forces in Japan."

On March 15th, Secretary of Interior Burgum announced more than $56 billion in Indo-Pacific energy deals had been made during the inaugural, US-sponsored Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum (IPEM) "The deals span a range of products and sectors including liquefied natural gas, coal and nuclear power, critical minerals, batteries and strategic infrastructure finance," according to an official with knowledge.

On March 16th, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi and Secretary Rubio held a telephone conference to discuss the situation in Iran, with Minister Motegi stating that "the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is of critical importance of the international community" and that "Japan would continue to make every necessary diplomatic effort, in coordination with the international community including the United States."

Finally, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara held a press conference on the 18th, giving a trip overview: "From March 18 to March 20, PM Takaichi will visit the United States and hold a Japan-U.S. summit meeting with President Trump in Washington, D.C. Through this visit, she intends to use this opportunity to reaffirm the unwavering solidarity between Japan and the United States, further advance cooperation across a wide range of fields—including diplomacy, security, and the economy, particularly economic security—and open a new chapter in the history of the Japan-U.S. alliance."

Prime Minister Takaichi's Schedule in Town Following the Bilateral Meeting:

March 19th: There may be a somei-yoshino cherry tree related ceremony in the afternoon following the bilateral meeting. Japan is giving the U.S. 250 additional cherry trees to celebrate America's 250th birthday; a nod to the original 1912 gift that is about to bloom around the Tidal Basin later this month.

March 20th: A morning visit to Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony is planned before her departure for Tokyo later in the day.

*Earlier this month, Takaichi revealed that she had received an invitation to address a joint session of Congress. While she was delighted to receive the opportunity, she ultimately declined, saying that if the address were to be scheduled on Friday, the 20th, most legislators would be back in their districts. She hopes for a future opportunity to address Congressional members at a more suitable time.

Last night, it was announced that US Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and other lawmakers are leading a bipartisan Senate resolution to welcome the Prime Minister as she visits the U.S. this week.

About Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae:

Ms. Takaichi, 65, does not hail from a political family. Her father worked for a Toyota-affiliated auto firm while her mother served in the Nara Prefectural Police. Born and raised in Nara prefecture, she is Japan's first-ever female Prime Minister.

A self-described social conservative, Takaichi has openly spoken about her admiration for British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. She has wholeheartedly embraced the moniker of "Japan's Iron Lady" as well as the late Baroness' preference for iconic blue power suits paired with pearl necklaces.

Takaichi supports traditional gender roles, opposes same sex marriage, advocates for tougher regulations on immigration, and wants to uphold male-only succession to the Imperial Throne. She has also downplayed Japan's aggression during WWII.

Notably, in her twenties, Takaichi was a U.S. Congressional intern and subsequent fellow for the late Democrat Pat Schroeder, US Representative for Colorado's 1st Congressional district, who was an influential feminist legislator and a pioneer for women's rights. Takaichi worked for Schroeder in both her Denver and DC offices in 1987.

Upon her return to Japan, Takaichi had a brief stint as a TV presenter before launching her political career in 1993. She joined the LDP 3 years later and went on to serve in various key posts throughout the years, including Minister of Economic Security and Minister of International Communications.

A protege of the slain Prime Minister Abe, Takaichi became a candidate in the 2021 LDP leadership election, after receiving his endorsement, but was eliminated before the runoff. She ran for a second time in the 2024 leadership election but narrowly lost in a runoff to Ishiba Shigeru, the previous Prime Minister. The third time proved to be the charm as she defeated her now Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro in the 2025 leadership election to become the party's first female president. She was elected Prime Minister through a premiership vote by the National Diet on October 21st.

Barely days into her premiership, Takaichi faced a diplomatic row with China, after she effectively said that a Taiwan contingency could trigger the deployment of Self-Defense Forces if the conflict were to pose an existential threat to Japan. Following her remarks, a Chinese diplomat posted a since-deleted violent threat seemingly targeting Takaichi online, sparking a still continuing diplomatic fallout. China has since imposed a series of retaliatory economic measures including export controls, a ban on seafood imports and a restriction of tourism to Japan. It also escalated the matter militarily when 2 Chinese fighter jets twice locked their fire-control radars on JASDF F-15 jets.

*The series of events were documented in the just released US ODNI 2026 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community Report, assessing that Takaichi's comments on Taiwan "represent a significant shift for a sitting Japanese prime minister." Japan has rejected that characterization, arguing that Tokyo's approach to the issue remains "quite consistent."

However, Takaichi's tough stance on China, coupled with her expansionary fiscal policies and proactive national security stance helped her gain high approval ratings which ultimately resulted in her winning a historic landslide victory for the LDP in February's snap election, where she secured a two-thirds supermajority, the most a single party has ever won in postwar Japanese electoral history.

As noted above, President Trump issued a "Complete and Total Endorsement" via a Truth Social post on February 6th, and on February 8th, followed up to congratulate Takaichi on her "bold and wise decision to call for an Election" that "paid off big time."

Takaichi has also sparked a legion of Sanae "stans" practicing sana-katsu, a term borrowed from idol fandom where admirers purchase items that she uses or endorses. So far, a particular pink ball point pen, a Japanese brand black leather commuter tote and even a shrimp cracker snack she was spotted with, have seen sales sky rocket.

Takaichi is an avid fan of heavy metal, and has listed X Japan, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden as some of her favorite bands. She took up drumming in high school and still reaches for her drumsticks to this day, as witnessed by an impromptu K-pop jam session she hosted with South Korean President Lee during his January visit to Japan. Although she has rheumatoid arthritis and is often seen sporting a black fingerless compression glove on her affected right hand to relieve the pain and discomfort, she still plays drums to let off steam. She recently suffered a hand injury when an enthusiastic supporter gripped her hand too hard during campaign activities in February and is sometimes still seen with bandages.

She is also a documented car enthusiast, driving a 1991 Toyota Supra A70 2.5GT Twin-Turbo Limited for over 20 years in her early years in parliament. The car, having been restored in recent years, is now on display in a local Toyota dealership museum in Nara.

Thank you for reading this lengthy post.

Best,

Mineko Tokito Abe

Yomiuri Shimbun

--

Mineko Tokito Abe

Senior Washington Reporter

The Yomiuri Shimbun

General Bureau of the Americas

Suite 802 National Press Building

529 14th st. NW Washington DC 20045

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