US President Donald Trump began one of the most eventful days of his Asia trip on Tuesday by extending a warm welcome to Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, at Tokyo’s Akasaka Palace. The meeting underscored both personal diplomacy and high-stakes economics, as the two leaders inked fresh deals on trade and critical minerals — areas central to both nations’ strategic ambitions.

“It’s a very strong handshake,” Trump lavished praises on Japan's PM Takaichi remarked as the pair posed for photographers. Also Read | Trump signs trade, rare earths deal with Japan PM Sanae Takaichi: 5 points

The compliment drew on Takaichi’s deep ties with the late Shinzo Abe, Trump’s long-time ally and golfing partner. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that Takaichi

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