Trump’s remark appeared to draw some laughter from journalists and others present in the room in the White House, while Takaichi’s reaction seemed to reflect some of the unease that surrounds the issue.
Mineko Tokito, a senior reporter from Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, was in the Oval Office at the time and said the PM’s discomfort was “clear”.
“Prime Minister Takaichi viscerally reacted, her eyes widening and her smile disappearing as she leaned back, drawing her hands in, clearly taken aback by the sudden mention of Pearl Harbor,” she said.
Yuta Nakamura, a 33-year-old engineer, told Reuters news agency that Takaichi had been put in “a very difficult situation” and praised the PM for “avoiding upsetting Trump”.
Tokio Washino, a retiree, said: “Given the historical context of Japan having done that, and with Donald Trump bringing it up as an example, it makes me feel a bit uneasy as a Japanese citizen.”