It’s been described as “the greatest comeback in political history.” On Wednesday, Donald J. Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States, four years after refusing to accept the results of the election that he lost to Joe Biden. Following Trump’s dramatic victory over Kamala Harris, Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters that he will make efforts to get in touch with the president-elect as soon as possible.
Ishiba Congratulates Trump
“I would like to congratulate President-elect Trump on his victory and also pay tribute to the democratic choice of the people of the United States,” said Ishiba. “I hope to work closely with Trump to take the Japan-US alliance and Japan-US relationship to new heights.”
Ishiba, who will be reappointed as prime minister in an extraordinary session of the Diet to be convened next Monday, is planning to attend conferences in Peru and Brazil later this month. A stopover in the US to meet Trump now appears likely.
Speaking to BS Fuji TV, former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized the significance of making a good first impression. “It’s important for the future to build human relations quickly,” he said. “It’s a showcase of Japanese diplomacy. Diplomacy, after-all, is about human relations. It’s vital to make contact with the other party as soon as possible and to make a good impression.”
Concerns for Japan Following Trump’s Victory
There is concern among Japanese netizens that Ishiba will struggle to deal with Trump. While former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the president-elect were famously close, there is a feeling that the relationship between Trump and Ishiba will be different. Some have even questioned whether they will be able to enjoy golf together.
“Prime Minister Abe was truly a great man,” posted one user on X. “He shook off the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ obstruction and went to meet Trump, who was then called a ‘tyrant,’ and won his heart. There’s no doubt that trust between the two nationalists was fostered. Ishiba cannot do such a thing. There is a huge gap between his human power and ambition, and even if he did manage to do it, he would end up being despised.”
“The current problem with Trump’s victory is that Japan’s prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, is no match for Trump,” wrote another. “Trump hates people like Ishiba the most, who act intelligent but refuse to clearly state their conclusions. We need to replace the prime minister immediately.”
Trump’s proposal for sweeping tariffs is also a worry for Japanese netizens. He has pledged to impose tariffs of 60% or more on Chinese imports and tariffs of 10-20% percent on all other foreign goods.
“There are many enthusiastic Trump supporters in Japan, but in reality, the Trump administration will bring more disadvantages to Japanese companies and people,” tweeted one X user. “The United States will restrict imports, impose high tariffs and pressure the import of American products. The yen will weaken. Japan’s military burden will increase. There will be an increase in authoritarian politics and the expansion of conflicts and wars around the world. Investors will be the ones to profit.”
photo by 黒猫ドラネコ【トンデモ観察記】
Trump Supporters in Japan
In a survey by Reuters three months ago, 43% of Japanese firms said they preferred Harris, compared to just 9% for Trump. However, there is significant support for the president-elect in Japan. An example of this was displayed at the pro-Trump march in Osaka last week, during which, his face was superimposed on, among other things, Thomas the Tank Engine.
