Chris Arnade Walks the World

Japan: America's Best Ally?

The author’s walk through Satsumasendai, a modest industrial town in Kyushu, revealed an unexpected charm that prompted a return visit after a brief stop in Kagoshima. While dining at a family‑run sushi shop, the conversation turned to the recent Trump‑Sanae Takaichi meeting, where the former president’s Pearl Harbor joke sparked backlash on U.S. platforms but earned enthusiastic approval from locals. The piece juxtaposes the town’s unassuming landscape with its warm reception of American leadership, suggesting a nuanced grassroots view of the U.S.–Japan alliance. Ultimately, the narrative highlights how everyday encounters can illuminate broader diplomatic sentiments.