Abe says he is confident of building trust with Trump after 90-minute meeting

Anyone who's read "The Art of the Deal" knows that Trump does not like to negotiate with us Japanese. He thinks we are difficult since we always go to meetings in large groups and can never come to a decision unless we all agree with each other. He is right.

It seems to me that Trump is a fair man, much fairer than obama

Yeah, Obama was extremely unfair to Mexicans and Muslims, women who get abortions, handicapped people.

Oh wait...

Indecent and undignified haste, rushing over there like a lackey, and yet Japan wants to be considered an independent power.

I bet Trump said the relationship will be "yuge" and "beautiful, no one loves Japan more than me..."

90 minutes? That has to be a record for a Japanese business/political meeting. They may not have gotten past handshakes and asking about tea.

“Alliances cannot function without trust. I am now confident that President-elect Trump is a trustworthy leader.”

What does that say about Abe?

Actually Obama deported millions of immigrants.

Illegals.

More than bush and probably more than Trump.

Of course it's more than Trump - Trump has never had the power to deport anyone.

He only wants to deport criminals.

Do you have any evidence that Obama deported anyone who wasn't a criminal? And if they weren't a criminal, then how could they be deported?

Abe, Trump conclude hastily arranged meeting in New York

That photo speaks volumes. What a farce!

A JT article released just four hours ahead of this one was headlined, "Packed Japan-U.S. agenda for Trump's meeting with Abe."

Now after reading this article, I am left thinking so much for the "packed agenda."

Abe: We have the basis of a relationship of mutual trust between our two countries. Trump: Some Asian dude tried to sell me a casino project in Hong Kong or some place. I said, 'Sure, why not'.

It'll be interesting to know the details. I suspect Trump has "committed" to the Japan alliance, basically backtracking on his campaign statements. If so, good on Abe for extracting such a big concession

Meeting of 2 leaders and it's "unofficial", so another "behind closed door" deals.

UdondashiNOV. 18, 2016 - 02:35PM JST I wish Trump taking a more fair approach with Japanese companies, obama administration used Japanese firms just like your cash dispenser

Only country Trump will take fair approach is China. It will be difficult. Today, Japan is just a small player is in world trade. Japan never had "fair approach" to U.S. in the 1980's and 90's. If you remember, Japan exported over 2.3 million cars to U.S. and U.S. exported less that 10,000 to Japan with microscopic inspection and excess tax at Tokyo bay.

@sfjp330

You're missing my point. I'm just wondering who told Bass or anyone else to put blind trust in Obama.

On the subject of promises and minorities, I see Trump's campaign is now denying his calling for a Muslim registry despite video evidence of him saying precisely that.

I hope his deplorables didn't put blind trust in that one...or the wall...or the plan to deport all illegals...or.....

An hour and a half meeting....may be Abe just collected one page of Home Work to be submitted to Trump by January 2017 !

Abe said: Alliances cannot function without trust. I am now confident that President-elect Trump is a trustworthy leader.

After 90 minutes...with a sociopath? Really? That's a shocking statement from Abe.

They look like two schoolboys who are pretending to make up after getting scolded by a teacher for fighting behind the gymnasium.

Check out the decor in that room in Trump Tower. Anybody notice any throwbacks to bygone ages?

Puts me in mind of George Bush`s comment on peering into Putin's soul... premature at best, shall we say?

"No, he just didn't care about illegals coming in and if the country is overrun with potential terrorsts, we were told blindly to just trust him, well the country told him what they thought about that a week ago."

Who told you to trust Obama blindly?

Jimizo NOV. 18, 2016 - 04:10PM JST Who told you to trust Obama blindly?

Obama made many promises about fixing the economy. He pledged to end the recession and change the policies that had caused it. Obama promised to solve many long-term economic problems, like the high cost of health care, U.S. dependence on foreign oil, and stimulating more technology and innovation. He kept many, but certainly not all, of them.

He kept most of his promises (more than most presidents).

But that wasn't the question, the question was who said to trust him blindly?

Abe says a lot, but delivers NOTHING. Why do the voters not notice?

Trump can't seem to remember from one minute to the next what he said. Now he is denying he said Japan should go nuclear even though there is video showing him saying this. The question is, will he remember that he met Abe a week from now, or will he deny that too.

Looking at the picture, I can only think they are two cheeks of the same butt.

Abe is the Donald Trump of Japan. I've always thought so. Below is an exerpt of a wonderfully written column by my good friend Debito. It illustrates just how much Dumb and Dumber- excuse me, Trump and Abe, are alike.

There are parallels between what just happened in America and what has happened in Japan since 2012. In their campaigns, both Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appealed to naked nationalism — vowing to make their countries somehow “great” again by appealing to a halcyon past. Both have pointed to threatening outsiders (both international and domestic) as reasons to militarize. Both come from privileged backgrounds and feel they are entitled to power. And to keep it, both are prepared to be unrepentant bullies. Both have encouraged cultures of hatred towards foreigners, and encouraged (if not presided over) policies that targeted religious minorities and criminalized nationals of specific countries. Trump has railed against Muslims and Mexicans, among others, while Abe’s camp has targeted North Koreans, the Chinese and Japan’s Muslim community as terrorists and criminals. Both also faced leftist oppositions with rotating political dynasties. America’s Democrats kept on trying to put in a Clinton or Clinton-approved nominee. The Democratic Party of Japan, until its demise and rebranding under Renho, kept the hackneyed leadership of Yukio Hatoyama, Naoto Kan and Katsuya Okada on speed dial. Both leftist parties had trouble deciding whether they were pro-business left or socialist left, driving away numerous supporters who felt unrepresented and rejected. And when fighting the leftists in power, both the Liberal Democratic Party and the Republicans created government policymaking gridlock. Yet both the LDP and the GOP were eventually rewarded with majorities in both branches of the legislature. Ironically, their obstructionism and unwillingness to compromise resulted in gaining real power. In neither country does this dynamic result in constructive or productive incentive systems in government. Polarization encouraged voters to make stark choices in what is more naturally a political spectrum. And, alas, the dominoes wound up falling towards the intolerant, bigoted side.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2016/11/16/issues/trumps-lesson-can-lie-way-top/#.WC5-xzj_pFo

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with Donald Trump on Thursday seeking clarity on campaign statements by the president-elect that rattled the Tokyo government, later telling reporters he was confident Trump was a “trustworthy leader.”

YYYEEEAAAHHH.... If its coming from YOU that tells me that he is most certainly NOT a trustworthy leader.

Abe and other Asian leaders were alarmed at Trump’s pledge during his campaign to make allies pay more for help from U.S. forces, his suggestion that Japan should acquire its own nuclear weapons and his staunch opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

Why is Abe alarmed? Trump just called him out on his right wing stupidism.

It seems to me that Trump is a fair man, much fairer than obama Yeah, Obama was extremely unfair to Mexicans and Muslims, women who get abortions, handicapped people. Oh wait...

HAHAHAHAAHAHAAHA!!!! Good one SL!

This could well be a good move by Abe. To talk to Trump in a friendly way and lay down a marker or two before Trump appoints a hardcore nutcase like John Bolton to a high foreign affairs or security position. Get to the main man who ostensibly has the most power while the going is still relatively good.

I'm no fan of Abe by any stretch of that imagination, but the only downside I can see to this is him looking weak or foolish. Both of these are acceptable to me(!)

Mr. Abe is naive. He trusts Trump? No American media was allowed in the meeting. Ivanka and hubby were present? Be prepared to see Ivanka designer goods in Mitsukoshi soon. The Clinton Foundation looks like petty thievery now. Trump etal is out for a grand heist.

90 minutes, does that really mean 45 minutes of translators talking to each other and 30 minutes of of Abe and trump awkwardly staring at each other and 15 minutes of awkward attempts to discuss US and Japan relations???

“The talks made me feel sure that we can build a relationship of trust,” Abe told reporters.

This must be a compliment for Trump. No one knows whether can trust Trump or can not. That's why no other presidents or prime ministers try not meet him now.

sfjp330 NOV. 18, 2016 - 02:53PM JST You have to remember that a lot of cogs are made in SK and J to keep the USA running.

Problem is that fewer and fewer Japanese companies are owned by Japanese. Many are controlled by Taiwanese, Chinese, U.S., and Europeans.

lol, his statement reminds me of what GW Bush said after meeting Putin & seeing his soul through his eyes..that worked out really well too!

net talking is thirteen min??j to e, e to American e, vi d ersa.

"Abe says he is confident of building trust with Trump after 90-minute meeting".

What amazes me about this headline is that I've been watching a listening to Trump for over a year and I still can't trust him. Abe managed this in just 90 minutes...

Don't think Trump is interested Thomsen you. He invited all kind ofForeiiiign country heads toooTrumo Hotel charged expensive toom fees. He said he is not collecting. His chiln's business.

@toshiko thank you. Prior American presidents have all done the bowing thing, as well as to other foreign dignitaries, it being a sign if respect. The handshake is a greeting but more like making a deal, not showing respect we would want to give a foreign dignitary. I guess many of us assumed that bowing in Japan is also a form of respect. I did not know Abe had been to school here. He was using an interpreter to speak to Trump as well. As far as Trump and China, which somebody mentioned, he has a large personal loan held by china. I am sure there is going to be a lot of giving in to them as I don't see him doing anything that could make his situation worse and none of us here put him above trying to gain personally through his foreign contacts as we already see him doing it with his companies here in the US, all of which have huge conflicts of interest with his new role as president.

Less than a week later, Trump rips up the TPP agreement Abe thought his get-to-know-you visit had salvaged:

“The TPP would be meaningless without the United States,” Abe said, after Japan and other TPP countries had discussed the agreement on the sidelines of the Apec summit in Lima at the weekend. He added that the pact could not be renegotiated. “This would disturb the fundamental balance of benefits,” he said. Trump’s determination to rip up the agreement will have horrified Abe, who was earlier quoted as saying of his initial meeting, “The talks made me feel sure that we can build a relationship of trust.”. Played again.

I have also prayed at Yasukuni shrine.

So if there was a shrine set up for German war criminals reverence , would you pray there as well?

Abe is a politician. Trump is learning to be a politician. He becomes one on January 20th.

Neither can trust the other. A healthy amount of mistrust is necessary when people have different goals, even when they align on some level.

We can only see what actually happens. Actions, not words.

What a freak'n gold-lame horror show. Interesting times. The pasty pink pear-shaped potus-elect should be entertaining at least, if not a total train wreck. Should bring Alex Jones into these meetings :)

So much for free speech then. Sometimes this forum is a joke!!

Maria Indecent and undignified haste, rushing over there like a lackey, and yet Japan wants to be considered an independent power.

The J-media think otherwise, all were in praise of Abe and his move was great.

Trust is one thing they could be like friends but business won't be as usual and hopefully better rather then worst..

I am wondering what people in Japan think of the fact that Trump, unlike every other US president before him, refused to do the traditional greeting bow to Abe. Conservatives here seem to be celebrating it, but do any of you feel that was a bit rude and brash?

he attended to USC...

He should have chosen a better university.

Here is a picture of the two.

https://twitter.com/USAforTrump2016/status/799430917961957380

Headline should be; "Trump normalised for Japan's consumption, Abe gets go ahead for constitutional pet project."

given the importance of Japan-U.S. relations. Aso stated. Not really smart to show your hand to this fellow. Should be showing Trump that that the USA is a just a nuisance and do not give any real importance the USA present in Japan. Like do what you want we can live without the USA. Stand up to Trump. For Japan sake Abe and co show some balls.

After only meeting Trump for 90 minutes for the first time ever, Abe is instantly confident and trusting of Trump just weeks after announcing he would meet with Hillary after the election!

Shinzo must be a wannabe clairvoyant!

@Sara:Trump,is an American and just like any Americans, shaking hand is their custom. As for Abe, when he was young, he was sent to USA, and he lived in an American people's house, he attended to USC for one semester so he is familiar with American custom, too?. Don't you know Japanese people watch TV? Where you got idea that bowing is traditional japanee custom? Abe was not from a laborers family. Japanese people know.

John-San NOV. 18, 2016 - 01:53PM JST Like do what you want we can live without the USA. Stand up to Trump. For Japan sake Abe and co show some balls.

What happened when former PM Hatoyama tried to do that few year back? It was a disaster. Japan defense budget for many decades have been around 1 percent of GDP defense, which a meager amount compared to other first world countries. Maybe it's better for Japan and Abe government to defend themselves. U.S. defense budget will eventually be unsustainable. If Japan decides to separate from U.S. policy, Japan's defense budget will increase by at least 10 percent a year for many decades. Economy in Japan will be a major problem.

Here are Japan's worries. Although the DPRK is unlikely to attack since it would lose a full-scale war, South Korea and Japan currently remains uncomfortably dependent on U.S. Both countries could find itself ill-prepared to deter DPRK. South Korea and Japan cannot borrow an umbrella from U.S. every time there is a threat. If DPRK still refuses to surrender its nuclear weapons and South Korea and Japan have to eventually make the ultimate choice. Unfortunately, in Northeast Asia today nonproliferation operates a little like gun control in the U.S., only the neighbors end up armed. China, Russia, and North Korea all have nuclear weapons. America’s allies, Japan and South Korea, do not, and expect Washington to defend them. The conflicts do not always evolve rationally.

sfjp330: I understand the politic involve. Trump a business man. He put his chips on the table stating like Australia Japan should be spend 2% of GDP if you want a alliance . You have to remember that a lot of cogs are made in SK and J to keep the USA running. IT will take time for the USA to gear up building plants have the latest technical equipment to fill the plant s and the skill work force. It will take time. And time in this case is a bargaining chip. Japan is in very different position compared to decades ago. Trump is not dumb but has nothing in place and a Newby to this kind of negotiating

Yes that correct. But Trump has 4 years term. He has to make good or face getting dumped by GOP. The bills have to be drawn up then pass both house.. I assume it will at 6 months before the bill are presented. Then there is the debate debated by those who,s pockets are full with these companies money. A lot of senator and congressman are on these companies pay roll, It might not show on paper but they are will and truely greased. I can not see any company up and running in USA who is off shore by 2020. Trump needs these plants running with workers. It was the disenfranchise white worker who got Trump in. So I go back to time. Time is the key chip in this and how it played.

Abe news came with Video. Then Trump want open closed Ford plant. Ivanka is a business woman so she knows only Japan can help American auto industry and jobs. Lucky for Abe.

Mr. Abe is a hero.

Mr.Abe knows how much important the US-Japan alliance is for Japanese people.

Mr.Abe needed to meet Mr. Trump as soon as possible because of the radical things about US-Japan Mr Trump said before elected as a president.

Mr. Abe needed to ensure US-Japan alliance is the tight one.

I respect him more than ever. US-Japan alliance is there for those who believe that is important.

I am one of those people.

@strangerland

Actually Obama deported millions of immigrants. More than bush and probably more than Trump. He only wants to deport criminals.

The meeting between two LEADERS, and not ACTORS. The alliance will be stronger through many challenges ahead.

Yeah, Obama was extremely unfair to Mexicans and Muslims, women who get abortions, handicapped people.

No, he just didn't care about illegals coming in and if the country is overrun with potential terrorsts, we were told blindly to just trust him, well the country told him what they thought about that a week ago.

I wish Trump taking a more fair approach with Japanese companies, obama administration used Japanese firms just like your cash dispenser

Fair enough, I think he will once the man has everything in place,

I wish Trump taking a more fair approach with Japanese companies, obama administration used Japanese firms just like your cash dispenser

It seems to me that Trump is a fair man, much fairer than obama

A few unfortunate remarks here (probably not from a US citizen). I wish them both the best of luck and trust that there will be an excellent relationship.

Long live US-Japan Friendship, Respect, Freedom, Security and Mutual Success!

I voted for DJT from here in Kyoto, and worked for President Reagan 35 years ago. I have also prayed at Yasukuni shrine.

Not interested in vitriol. Only good and positive intentions, true leadership. Thank you, Abe-san for visiting NY and the President-elect.