Meloni Meets Japan’s First Female PM; Birthday Celebration Sparks New Bond
Italian PM Meloni celebrates her 49th birthday with Japan’s first female leader, marking a fresh diplomatic tie.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni turned 49 on 15 January 2026 and celebrated in Tokyo a day later. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi – Japan’s first female head of state – sang “Happy Birthday,” presented cake, candles, adorned Meloni with earrings and a Hello Kitty gift basket for her daughter. The leaders shared a selfie that Meloni later reposted as an animated version with the caption, “Two distant nations, but ever closer.” They pledged to deep‑en security, economic and technology cooperation, raising the bilateral partnership to a special strategic level. Meloni’s earlier friendship with former US President Donald Trump frames the developing rapport.