U.S. President Donald Trump is set to arrive at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Saturday evening aboard Air Force One, kicking off his stay in Japan through Tuesday as the first state guest since the Reiwa era began at the start of this month.
During his stay, Trump will hold talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- their 11th time -- and will also have a meeting with the Emperor, thus becoming the first foreign leader to do so since the Emperor's enthronement on May 1.
"[I'm] looking forward to honoring, on behalf of the United States, His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan," Trump had tweeted while en route to Tokyo aboard Air Force One. "I will also be discussing Trade and Military with my friend, Prime Minister @AbeShinzo."
This is Trump's second trip to Japan, after one in November 2017, and the first state visit by a U.S. president since one by Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, in April 2014.
The U.S. president will visit the Imperial Palace to meet with the Emperor on Monday. On that day, he will also hold talks with Abe, during which the two leaders are expected to confirm their countries' cooperation toward realizing the complete denuclearization of North Korea, while also discussing trade issues between the two sides.
Abe is making arrangements for a visit in mid-June to Iran, a nation with which the United States has been heightening tensions. During Monday's meeting, the prime minister is expected to express his willingness to cooperate with Trump in helping stabilize the Middle East.
Trump will also meet with family members of Japanese abducted by North Korea, as he did during his visit to Japan two years ago. He is expected to express his country's all-out support toward resolving the issue.
In addition to Monday's talks, Abe and Trump held a meeting in late April when the prime minister visited the United States, and they will have another one when the U.S. president travels to Osaka in late June to attend a meeting of the Group of 20 major economies. It is rare for the leaders of Japan and the United States to have three summit meetings over a period of two months.
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