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

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.