Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has left for the United States for what she expects to be a “very difficult” meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Sunday that one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has been released and will be returning to Japan. Motegi, speaking on a Fuji Television talk

Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will be the first U.S. ally to visit the White House since President Trump asked for help in sending ships to patrol the Strait of Hormuz.

During her first visit to the White House, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi drew praise from President Trump. But the war in the Middle East will test their relationship.

Chris Payne has spent nearly four and a half years in detention in Japan, at various facilities, as he and his supporters, including Innocence Project Japan, battle for his freedom.

After suffering a sluggish performance in the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election, the JIP aims to demonstrate its presence by pressing the LDP to realize the JIP's policies.

Japan is deploying subsidies to blunt fuel price increases but remains vulnerable to the long-term economic risks of the war in the Middle East.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the nation is prepared to allow Japanese-related vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after consultations between the countries’ officials, according to Kyodo News.