Trump in Tokyo
What do you know about Trump’s trip to Japan?
Why do you think Takaichi looks so happy in this picture?
How does Takaichi feel in this video?
Shinzo Abe was great at building a close relationship with Trump.
Abe buttered up Trump when they played golf together, ate hamburgers and watched a sumo tournament… Trump gave a “Trump cup” to the winner.
butter up = praise someone or give them presents to make them like you
What did Takaichi do to butter up Trump?
She said; “Prime Minister Abe often told me about your dynamic diplomacy...I myself am so impressed and inspired by you, Mr. President.”
She gave Trump a golf bag signed by Hideki Matsuyama and a putter that Abe owned
She displayed on guest house grounds 2 trucks (Ford F150, Toyota Tundra) and a Toyota Camry for Nascar. Why?
Answers:
The Nascar Toyota Camry was to remind Trump that Japanese engineering is often used in America and American culture
The Tundra is a Toyota truck only made in the US. It’s sold in the US, Canada and Australia. Takaichi is offering to import it to Japan if a trade deal is reached.
Takaichi is considering buying “dozens” of Ford 150’s for the Japanese government. What could they be used for?
The plan is to use them to inspect infrastructure (bridges, buildings) in the countryside. Trump often complains that Americans buy many Japanese cars but Japanese people don’t buy American cars.
Can Trump make American cars popular in Japan?
American cars are usually too big for Japanese roads. A Ford f150 is 205cm wide. Some sections of Inokashira Dori are only 250 cm wide.
American cars are often less fuel-efficient and seen as less reliable than Japanese cars.
The car is less reliable = it breaks down a lotIn 2024 one third of all new cars sold in Japan were Kei cars. Only 6% were foreign cars and most of those were European.
Ford pulled out of Japan in 2016
Q: What else do you think Trump and Takaichi talked about?
A: They talked about
Shinzo Abe, Trump’s friend and Takaichi’s mentor
the baseball world series (and watched some of it on TV)
trade and tariffs
tariff = tax on imports
Do you think Takaichi did a good job keeping Trump happy?
In September Ishiba’s government agreed a new trade deal with the U.S.
The US agreed to set a tariff of 15% for all Japanese goods and services. It was down from 24%.
In exchange Japan promised to invest $550 billion (10% of it’s GDP) in US projects.
The problem is Trump will decide what those projects are so some may harm Japan or Japanese companies in the future.
Japan will invest in projects and it will split profits 50-50 with the US. After Japan makes it’s money back, the US will take 90% of profits.
3 weeks before Trump came to Japan, Trump visited the UK.
How do you think Britain tried to butter up Trump?
sources
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20251029/p2a/00m/0na/015000c
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/us/politics/trump-takaichi-japan-meeting.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/business/japan-investment-trump-tariffs.html