20240828 Kishida-Biden/US-Japan alliance img main

U.S. President Joe Biden, right, with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House in January 2023: Both are suddenly signaling their imminent departure from office, fueling uncertainty over their successors. (Pool via Reuters)

Tighter U.S.-Japan alliance is unexpected legacy of Kishida-Biden era

Uncertainty over successors threatens momentum of 'global partnership'

KEN MORIYASU, Nikkei Asia diplomatic correspondent, and SHIN NAKAYAMA, Nikkei Asia Editor-in-Chief

August 28, 2024 06:00 JST

WASHINGTON/TOKYO -- When dovish, soft-spoken Fumio Kishida became Japan's 100th prime minister in October 2021, a briefing paper for U.S. President Joe Biden focused on two characteristics: "competence" and "caution."

The memo by Christopher Johnstone, then U.S. National Security Council director for East Asia, highlighted Kishida's competent service as foreign minister for five years under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe while also speaking of his perceived caution toward bold initiatives.