The governments of Japan and the United States are reportedly discussing a schedule for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to visit the United States. Because March 20 is the first day of a three-day holiday in Japan, minimizing the impact on the Diet's schedule, the visit is expected to be set around that date.
According to a report by Kyodo News on the 18th, multiple diplomatic sources said Takaichi's U.S. visit schedule will be finalized after an early general election, which is likely to be held on the 8th of next month, and conveyed this information. Takaichi's side sounded out dates around March 20, the first day of a three-day holiday in Japan, because the impact on the Diet's schedule would be small, and the U.S. side reportedly reacted positively.
Takaichi plans to hold a Japan-U.S. summit before U.S. President Donald Trump visits China in April next year to confirm the strength of the alliance over policy toward China. However, Kyodo News said the visit could be canceled depending on the general election results, and the Diet's deliberations on the fiscal 2026 budget (April 2026–March 2027) could also become a variable that changes the schedule.
Earlier, in December last year, Takaichi said at a lecture that arrangements were being made for a visit to the United States to hold talks with President Trump. At the time, Takaichi also said the timing of the U.S. visit would be "relatively early next year."