April 21, 2019

Without close friends in Asia, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears to be using every opportunity, even the Emperor’s accession, to court U.S. President Donald Trump.

Abe is scheduling a rushed visit to Washington to meet with Trump and celebrate the first lady’s birthday, and then is inviting him to be the first foreign leader to meet the new Emperor, the two countries announced Friday.

Tokyo and Washington said that Trump and first lady Melania Trump will make a state visit to Japan at the end of May, just weeks after Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the Chrysanthemum Throne. The Crown Prince’s 85-year-old father, Emperor Akihito, is ending his three-decade reign on April 30 by abdicating.

Read more:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/04/21/national/politics-diplomacy/abe-courts-trump-using-new-emperors-ascension-first-ladys-birthday-stay-good-graces/#.XL0gh-j7SM8