Ishiba seeks meeting with Trump this month, following Abe example

PM Ishiba has soon to be fielding so many phone calls from Japanese CEOs.

PM Ishiba had better put on his best negotiating hat as Japan is not presently in a position to receive favored treatment, as was the case when Abe was around.

Japanese Inc must now be scrambling to set up

production in the US.

Yes Ishiba set up an appointment ASAP.

Ishiba told reporters he wants to elevate relations with the United States, Japan's longtime security ally, to "new heights" under the next U.S. president

Maybe Ishiba could demonstrate his fealt

Ishiba told reporters he wants to elevate relations with the United States, Japan's longtime security ally, to "new heights" under the next U.S. president

Maybe Ishiba could demonstrate his fealty by the most epic seep bow when meeting Trump?

I have a feeling he would appreciate it.

Misconceiving that the U.S. forces are stationed in Japan (Okinawa in particular) for Japan's protection and security, Trump will certainly demand Japan to share more of the cost of operating USFJ bases here.

In that case, Japan can tell Trump to reduce the U.S. bases or to completely withdraw them from Japan. The construction of the Henoko new base will be a case in point.

The catch is that Ishiba's LDP government also believes U.S. forces are deployed to Japan for its protection. And so, the LDP government will comply to Trump's demand all across the board.

Ishiba told reporters he wants to elevate relations with the United States, Japan's longtime security ally, to "new heights" under the next U.S. president

Maybe Ishiba could demonstrate his fealty by the most epic deep bow when meeting Trump?

I have a feeling he would appreciate it.

My kingdom for an edit button right?

This guy will be on a jet to PBI faster than the Daytona.

He'd better bring a tribute.

Trump will just continue to throw more food to the fish.

I hope he's prepared to be one of the last calls, since Trump knows Japan is waiting and he can keep them waiting. He'll call everyone from Putin to Xi first, and like last time Japanese will complain about being 13th or whatever it was last time. Trump knows his lapdog is waiting.

Trump certainly deserves the congratulatory remarks form Ishiba. It is certainly a joy to see the seething writhing villains, his enemies, the opponents of democracy who tried to take his life. Against all odds. Great victory!

"Ishiba congratulates Trump on election victory; hopes to meet him soon."

If you play golf, you will get along very well just like PM Abe, May God Bless his soul.

Ishiba agrees during phone talks with Trump to meet soon

Well of course he does. What else is he going to do or say?

Better get the expensive suite and the chocolate cake if you want to avoid a trade war.

The latest Japanese PM Ishiba, needs to grovel well to his new puppet master.

Two way trade with China is much higher in volume.

The U.S. is Japan's most important economic and security partner

Fly vast distance to pay homage to the new security boss, same as the old boss.

“ Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba hopes to meet U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in the United States this month, … “

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Good luck to the leaders of these two great nations ( —*but I have a feeling Ishiba’s tenure as PM will be short—I’m already waiting for someone else to take his place (maybe Sanae Takaichi is still interested?)* ).

Run to daddy

kurisupisuToday  07:12 am JST

Japanese Inc must now be scrambling to set up

production in the US.

LOL. The very first Japanese factory in the US was opened by Bridgestone Tire in 1967. Today over 4,600 Japanese companies operate in the United States, with a significant number of them running manufacturing facilities. Japanese firms collectively employ more than 930,000 people in the U.S., making Japan the largest foreign employer in the American manufacturing sector. 

The concern among Japanese companies with respect to Trump are their auto plants in Mexico which may face promised high tariffs to sell in the US. But the three big US automakers are in exactly the same situation with their Mexican production.

Shigeru Ishiba is not Shinzo Abe who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Just like Trump. He can't emulate Abe. He needs to sell Japan on it's own merits, and for Trump that means economics. Trump has not shown that he has the intellectual capacity and interest to prioritize geopolitics.

I wonder what PM Ishiba’s golf handicap is?

Does P.M. Ishiba play Golf? Abe did.

https://www.mofa.go.jp/na/na1/us/page4e_001018.html

"Abe forged a close personal relationship with Trump, including hours on the golf course, which helped defuse several contentious issues between the allies, including defense spending and trade."

The only time I remember footage of Abe on the golf course with Trump was when he fell in the sandtrap and couldn't get up (as Trump ignored his flailing and walked away with Matsuyama), which was forbidden to be shown in Japanese media. You can find it on YouTube still, though.

Ishiba played golf until 2018. Might have to dust off the clubs.

We loved Prime Minister “Abi”. Japan chose this guy while stupidly thinking Democrats would win.

Ishiba always looked so angry at the world. Never seen the guy smile.

Trump "approaches every problem beginning with the question of what is in it for him. "

WRONG. He approaches with the question what is in it for the US? Rightly so. The military industrial complex is seething

If Ishiba is keen to say that the LDP has evolved and improved in response to voters’ opinion, then allowing himself to be portrayed as following in Abe’s footsteps is hardly the way to do it