The White House released footage of Japan's female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaiichi, raising her fist and showing an excited smile during a dinner event, sparking widespread discussion. This was contrasted with the solemn atmosphere previously shown when hosting the President of Ukraine and the Israeli Prime Minister.
This moment went beyond political news, as internet users edited and mocked it by comparing her to the “Cart Titan” from the popular anime Attack on Titan, turning it into a viral meme worldwide.
An interesting question arises: why does Japan's online community view their leader through this character? The faint smile and seemingly submissive demeanor conceal discomfort amid diplomatic pressures involving national dignity, stances on external conflicts, and sensitive historical wounds.
The awkwardness began in the Oval Office during a joint press conference when Morio Shichiiwa, a reporter from TV Asahi, directly asked President Donald Trump, “Why did the U.S. not notify its allies in advance before launching attacks on Iran?”
Instead of responding diplomatically, Trump retorted, “Who knows about surprises better than Japan? Why didn’t you tell us about Pearl Harbor beforehand?”
This statement immediately created a tense atmosphere in the press room, especially shocking to the Japanese side. Takaiichi widened her eyes briefly, then chose to remain silent, offering only a faint smile without responding.
Looking back, the wounds from Pearl Harbor and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima are historical issues that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and former President Barack Obama sought to heal and move beyond together since 2016.
Trump’s casual mention of this sensitive topic to divert attention from the Middle East conflict was widely reported by media, drawing more interest than the details of the leaders’ discussions.
The historic images from Washington were turned into anime memes overnight, which can be seen as more than mere humor. The Cart Titan character in Attack on Titan does not walk upright with leadership aura but crawls on all fours, primarily carrying supplies, weapons, and supporting the Marley army.
This reflects some Japanese citizens’ feelings that their Prime Minister’s conciliatory, appeasing attitude and silence in response to Trump’s disparaging remarks make Japan appear burdened with heavy responsibilities.
These include hosting U.S. military bases and following U.S. directions in the Indo-Pacific strategy, often without being treated as an equal partner.
Former diplomat Hitoshi Tanaka described this as sycophantic diplomacy, especially seen in submissive attitudes and praising Trump as the sole peacemaker.
Meanwhile, Chinese social media platforms Weibo and Douyin seized the moment to attack Japan as merely “America’s cheerleader,” mocking that even after more than 80 years, Japan cannot maintain a strong stance against the U.S.
However, from another perspective, Asahi News reported that the Japanese government may see this visit differently. Amid Iran tensions, Tokyo’s greatest concern was avoiding public rebuke from Trump, which they considered the worst outcome (最悪の展開).
Therefore, Takaiichi’s strategy of praising Trump and avoiding criticism of U.S. international law violations in the Iran attack may aim to preserve bilateral relations.
The resulting concession is that Japan accepts a heavy assignment (重い宿題) — U.S. pressure for Japan to participate in securing the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran’s efforts to disrupt oil supply chains.
In exchange, Japan gains opportunities to build advanced nuclear reactors in the U.S. and secures commitments to strengthen alliances, including the continuation of the U.S. nuclear umbrella protecting Japan from threats.
Ultimately, the drama between the two leaders at the White House and the Cart Titan memes are not just internet jokes but reflect some Japanese citizens' discomfort with their leader’s role on the international stage.
The undeniable reality is that Japan and the U.S. remain mutually indispensable. Japan still requires a security shield against regional threats, while the U.S. needs trusted bases and allies to counterbalance China’s power.
In the complex international political arena, Japan may have limited choices and sometimes must accept a supportive role similar to the Cart Titan—bearing arms and expectations of allies—even if it means forcing a smile at jokes that painfully touch on its own historical wounds.
ReferencesSouth China Morning Post,Asahi,Fandomwire,Al Jazeera
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