By outdoor-nature-child.com 
Japan’s Prime Minister Shiori Yamaguchi participated in a debate among party leaders organized by the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on the 12th. (Reuters)
In a recent exclusive interview with Yomiuri Shimbun on the 12th, Japanese Prime Minister Shiori Yamaguchi discussed the potential for an early meeting with the next U.S. president following the elections in November. He indicated that he would assess the feasibility of visiting the U.S. for a leaders’ summit prior to the new president’s inauguration in January.
Yamaguchi, who plans to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru in mid-November and subsequently travel to the G20 summit in Brazil, did not rule out a side trip to the U.S. during this time.
“As the Prime Minister of Japan, a key ally, I believe it’s crucial to establish a relationship with the new president before their inauguration in January,” he emphasized. He reiterated his commitment to strengthening and deepening the Japan-U.S. alliance and expressed a desire to meet with the incoming president as soon as possible. If this trip materializes, it would mark Yamaguchi’s first visit to the U.S. since taking office on October 1.
Reflecting on past diplomatic precedents, Yamaguchi highlighted former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to New York in November 2016, where he became the first foreign leader to meet with Donald Trump before his inauguration, fostering a strong initial rapport between the two.
While discussing Japan-U.S. relations, Yamaguchi showed interest in revising the legal status of U.S. military forces in Japan under the “U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement.” However, he refrained from specifying a timeline for achieving this goal, acknowledging the complexities involved.
“I understand better than anyone how challenging this task is, so I won’t make predictions on when we can reach this objective,” Yamaguchi stated.