Foreign Pool Report #12 Dinner scene

Pool was held in the East Room while we listened to melodies come through the door such as, Kawa no Nagare no Youni “Like the Flow of the River” a famous 1989 Japanese song by Misora Hibari followed by a jaunty rendition of My Neighbor Totoro.

(Your pooler is an avid Ghibli fan and could not contain her excitement.)

Pool was escorted into the State Dining Room at 7pm. We were brought into a display of about 7 round tables filled with Japanese delegation and U.S. administration, elected officials and ambassadors and industry giants.

One of PM Takaichi’s favorite songs X Japan’s Rusty Nail played in the background while guests enjoyed lively conversations.

METI minister Akazawa sat at Secretary Bessent’s table, where Palantir’s Alex Karp stood up and bowed to him. At another table, VP Vance clinked glasses with Foreign Minister Motegi. Google’s Sundar Pinchai was also in attendance.

President Trump and PM Takaichi entered together around 7:18pm and President Trump began remarks, speaking of Takaichi’s electoral victory and how she is visiting at the cusp of the cherry blossom season.

President Trump said that the 250 gifted cherry blossom trees were in the process of being planted and that Takaichi would need to come back To check them out.

President Trump spoke on the trade deal between US and Japan “one of the biggest deals ever made”

He repeated that Takaichi was a spectacular woman and that it was a honor to have her at the White House.

Takaichi began speaking at 7:29pm.

She expressed the deepest gratitude of hosting a “beautiful dinner” (she said that part in English) for her and her delegation.

She wished Barron Trump an early happy birthday, saying he took after his parents and was very “ikemen” or good looking in Japanese slang.

She mentioned the August Indycar race and how Honda race cars would be roaring on DC streets

She said she was wanted to bring him a cherry blossom tree but that she forgot about the strict quarantine measures for live plants.

She said that she and Donald were “best buddies”

She tag teamed with her interpreter to say that Japan is back.

Pool was escorted out at 7:35pm to the familiar strains of Furusato, 1914 children’s song that every Japanese person knows.

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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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www.yomiuri.co.jp