The nation's freshly appointed prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is ready to undertake her initial significant foreign policy challenge as she sits down with former US President Trump for important discussions in Tokyo.
The agenda of their meeting is anticipated to revolve around economic and defense topics, representing a pivotal moment for Japan's relationship with its influential ally.
The new PM, who recently assumed the role of Japan's first female leader after securing the top position of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, made her international debut at the recent Asean summit.
However, her upcoming talks with Trump is considered the real test that will set the tone for coming bilateral relations.
Takaichi faces a possibly shaky government landscape, having formed a partnership that puts her two seats short of a majority in the powerful lower house of parliament.
Consequently, her government will rely on opposition lawmakers to approve laws, adding a layer of difficulty to her leadership.
Takaichi holds the former president's suspicion of China's defense presence in the region, yet each countries have experienced issues from his "America-first" economic approach.
Recently, Trump facilitated a truce deal between Thailand and Cambodian forces on the first leg of his Asia visit.
Takaichi has stated her commitment to accelerate Japan's defense expansion, aiming to raise defense expenditure to 2% of GDP by the close of the fiscal year.
This step aligns with a long-held request from the former US leader and signifies the biggest defense expansion for the nation since the Second World War.
The country has also moved to acquire "retaliatory" capabilities, including cruise weapons from the US, and plans to use domestically developed extended-range missiles.
But, the bilateral defense agreement remains a point of tension, with the former president earlier suggesting that Japan should contribute more for stationing American forces on its soil.
Not many expect significant agreements on trade issues during the visit, particularly after recent duty changes offered a degree of relief to Japan's export sector.
Takaichi is likely to seek additional benefits by committing to increased purchases of US goods, including pickup trucks, agricultural produce, and natural gas.
The value Trump places on individual rapport could work in Takaichi's advantage, given her close ties with the late former prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was among Trump's preferred world leaders.
He was the initial foreign leader to meet the then president-elect after his election, and the pair built a strong relationship over mutual activities such as golf.
The former president's trip to the country will start with a meeting with Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
This will be followed by talks with Takaichi at the state guest house, the very venue where Trump held talks with the former leader in 2019.
Subsequently, Trump will travel to South Korea for the APEC meeting, where he is scheduled to engage with China's leader Xi.
