Italy’s Meloni and Japan’s Takaichi meet in Tokyo, pledge closer ties

Prime Ministers Giorgia Meloni of Italy and Sanae Takaichi of Japan met in Tokyo for extended talks and pledged to deepen bilateral ties, with the encounter marked by a public display of personal camaraderie between the two conservative leaders. The leaders discussed defense, trade and culture and said they would form a "special strategic partnership." At a joint news conference, Ms.

Takaichi toasted Ms. Meloni’s 49th birthday and presented a basket of gifts, including "Hello Kitty" souvenirs; Ms. Meloni later posted an anime-style selfie on X. The two first met last November at the meeting of the world’s 20 largest economies in South Africa, where a video of their encounter was widely circulated in Japan.

Both women are the only female leaders among the Group of 7 and head conservative parties. They share modest childhoods — Ms. Meloni was raised by a single mother in Rome, and Ms. Takaichi’s mother worked for the local police while her father worked for a car parts maker. Observers note neither is advancing notably pro-women policies: Ms.

Takaichi has two women among 18 cabinet officials and does not back changing the law on married couples’ surnames, while Ms. Meloni frames family policy around heterosexual marriage and traditional roles. "Both come from conservative right-wing backgrounds, and they are not even close to what we can call a feminist culture," said Junko Terao.

Key Topics

World, Giorgia Meloni, Sanae Takaichi, Italy, Japan, Critical Minerals