From Abe to Takaichi: Golf Gifts Bridge Japan-U.S. Relations

In her first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi used the power of symbolism to reinforce diplomatic trust.

Among the gifts she presented were Shinzo Abe’s personal golf putter, a gold-leaf golf ball, and a bag signed by Japanese golf star Hideki Matsuyama.

Each item was chosen to evoke Abe’s close friendship with Trump, which had helped anchor Japan-U.S. relations during Trump’s first term. The exchange marked more than nostalgia; it was a calculated move by Takaichi, Abe’s protégé, to project continuity in Japan’s foreign policy while strengthening her position as Japan’s first female prime minister.

Both leaders also signed baseball caps reading “Japan Is Back,” a slogan made famous by Abe, underscoring Tokyo’s intent to restore that message under new leadership.

The meeting came amid Japan’s pledge to gift 250 cherry trees to Washington — a long-standing symbol of goodwill. Analysts say the gestures signal that Takaichi’s government aims to rebuild trust with Trump through personal diplomacy, using Abe’s legacy as a bridge between two leaders and two allied nations.