Here are some photos from the Akasaka State Guest House, where Trump was received by an honour guard from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.

Shaimaa Khalil
Tokyo correspondent

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged Tuesday to build a “new golden era” of the Japan-US alliance together with President Donald Trump during their first meeting in Tokyo.

At the outset of the meeting, Takaichi also said the bilateral relationship has become “the greatest alliance in the world,” while praising Trump’s role in promoting peace in the Middle East.

A Japanese government source said Takaichi intends to tell Trump of her plan to recommend him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Suranjana Tewari
Asia Business Correspondent

Japan’s businesses were caught off guard when Trump announced sweeping tariffs on US trading partners in April.

Automakers – the country’s largest exporters to the US – faced 24% tariffs and tens of billions of dollars in losses.

Tariffs have now been lowered to 15%, in step with rivals in the region such as South Korea.

But the sector is lagging behind China as the world’s largest auto exporter, especially in the global transition towards electric vehicles.

And so the tariff chaos comes at a difficult time for one of Japan’s biggest and most lucrative industries.

Suranjana Tewari
Asia Business Correspondent

Trump imposed tariffs of 15% on imports from Japan and forced its ally to commit to investing $550bn to “advance economic and security interests in the US”.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is expected to flesh out those investments with Japanese companies during his visit.

So far, he has said the package would focus on areas such as power and pipelines that are fundamental to national security and have “virtually no risk”.

Tokyo has committed to buying around $8bn worth of agricultural products from the US, including soybeans.

Lutnick said tariffs on Japanese-made semiconductors and pharmaceuticals will remain at 15%.

Washington has pressed Tokyo to increase defence spending – something Takaichi seems open to.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss co-operation in shipbuilding, artificial intelligence and other technologies.

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent, travelling with the president

Donald Trump’s meeting with Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi began with baseball, fireworks and cherry trees.

The Japanese have a cheering interest in the Los Angeles Dodgers, which features multiple Japanese stars. She said she and Trump watched a bit of the ongoing World Series upon his arrival.

Takaichi also noted that America would celebrate its 250th birthday next year – and promised gifts of cherry trees to Washington and Japanese made fireworks.

Trump seemed flattered by the gesture, although he was perhaps more impressed by Takaichi’s promise to increase Japanese defence spending to 2% of its GDP.

The American president said the US had no closer ally than Japan and noted that the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe – who had become a good friend of his – had spoken highly of the new prime minister.

Trump’s week-long Asia tour has brought him to Malaysia and Japan and it will end at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in South Korea later this week, where he is scheduled to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Our correspondents tell us what to expect.

Takaichi is planning to recommend Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, according to multiple Japanese media reports.

She is making arrangements to inform Trump of her intentions, according to NTV. Pakistan and Cambodia have already nominated Trump for the prize.

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent, travelling with the president

A military honour guard stood at attention while a band played US and Japanese national anthems as well as military marches.

President Trump and PM Takaichi stories at the centre, flanked by advisors. Accompanying Trump were secretaries Rubio, Bessent and Lutnik. Also present were Susie Wiles and Stephen Miller.

Trump and Takaichi reviewed the soldiers and greeted the advisors.

Trump has arrived at the Akasaka Palace for his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Stay with us for more updates.

Shaimaa Khalil
Tokyo correspondent

President Trump is expected to push Japan to shoulder more of the security burden and increase defence spending — Takaichi’s announcement of the 2% defence spending hike coming in March will go down well with the US leader.

On trade and economy – he’ll press for greater US access to Japan’s auto and agriculture markets — urging Tokyo to buy more American rice and soybeans. That could unsettle Japan’s powerful farm lobby, and Takaichi will need to reassure rural voters that their livelihoods are protected.

Shaimaa Khalil
Tokyo correspondent

For Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi — Japan’s first female leader — it’s an early test of both her diplomacy and her leadership. She’s hosting Trump just days after taking office, at a moment when Japan faces a more uncertain regional landscape.

On defence and security, Tokyo will want to reaffirm that its defence alliance with Washington remains solid, especially as tensions simmer in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.

Takaichi wants to draw in more US investment while shielding key domestic sectors. The details of a new US-Japan tariff deal are still being worked out. And Japan – already investing more than $550bn in the US – will want that partnership to open doors for Japanese companies, especially in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.

For Takaichi, a protégé of the late former prime minister Shinzo Abe — who built a famously close rapport with Trump — this is as much a test of personal diplomacy as policy. A chance to show she can manage Japan’s most important alliance — and hold her own on the world stage.

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shortly on the second day of his high-stakes trip to Asia.

Takaichi, the first woman to lead Japan, is a conservative like Trump and just a few days ago the US president congratulated her on her election as PM. He also praised her for being a “highly respected person of great wisdom and strength”.

Today’s meeting will test whether Takaichi can build a relationship with Trump, who had friendly ties with her mentor, the late PM Shinzo Abe. It will also test how well she can deal with the US leader on trade and defence.

Stay with us as we bring you live updates from our correspondents on the ground in Tokyo.