"Japanese Foreign Minister attends Trump's inauguration...Ishiba is likely to seek an early visit to the U.S. "

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya has confirmed his plan to attend the inauguration ceremony of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on the 20th, NHK and other Japanese media reported.

NHK reported that Trump's side conveyed to Japan its intention to invite Foreign Minister Iwaya to the inauguration ceremony, and the Japanese government decided to send the foreign minister.

He also said it was unusual for Foreign Minister Iwaya to attend the inauguration ceremony, given that it was customary for Japanese ambassadors to the U.S. to attend the inauguration ceremony of the U.S. president.

Foreign Minister Iwaya is also expected to work on a preliminary suspension for an early meeting between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, which is being discussed in the middle of next month.

In this regard, Yomiuri explained, "If Foreign Minister Iwaya meets with Mike Waltz, who has been appointed as the national security adviser, there is a possibility of coordinating the agenda of the summit."

Yomiuri also pointed out that Foreign Minister Iwaya is seeking to meet with senior Trump administration officials in the second Trump administration, adding, "We are trying to share our perception of strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance and economic cooperation with the U.S. through a series of meetings."