Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi struck a personal note during her meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Tokyo on Friday, singing “Happy Birthday” in Italian and presenting her counterpart
with a cake to mark her 49th birthday.
Moments later, the two leaders embraced before parting ways. “Count always on me, OK? Whatever you need,” Meloni told Takaichi, according to a video released by the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office. “I know it’s not easy, but we’ll do it together.”
Calling each other affectionately by their first names — Giorgia and Sanae — the two leaders laughed, smiled for portraits and spoke of the bond they felt as women who had broken political barriers in deeply patriarchal societies.
The Tokyo meeting marked their first extended talks since Takaichi took office last fall.
The talks also focused on defence, trade and culture, with both leaders vowing to take ties between Italy and Japan to new heights. As the only two women currently leading Group of Seven countries, and as heads of conservative-leaning parties, Meloni and Takaichi are among the most influential leaders on the global stage.
Meloni said their relationship was “quickly poised to become a solid friendship, even a personal one, clearly always in the mutual interest of our nations”.
She noted that being the first women to lead their respective countries was both “a great honour” and “a great responsibility” that they were ready to shoulder, according to the New York Times.
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi sang "Happy Birthday" to Meloni in Italian and presented her with a birthday cake. https://t.co/BvNbDDg4qo pic.twitter.com/9QupLZ7Ily
— Jeffrey J. Hall 🇯🇵🇺🇸 (@mrjeffu) January 16, 2026
Takaichi hosted a birthday toast for Meloni and presented her with gifts, including earrings and Hello Kitty souvenirs for Meloni’s daughter.
She said she wanted to celebrate Meloni’s birthday “together with Japanese people”. Meloni later posted an anime-style selfie on X, saying she felt a sense of friendship and rapport with Takaichi.
Due Nazioni lontane, ma sempre più vicine.
Amicizia e sintonia con @takaichi_sanae 🇮🇹🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/LbRlnoeQcZ— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) January 16, 2026
The two leaders first connected last November at a G20 meeting, where a warm exchange between them went viral in Japan. They share similar backgrounds, having risen without political dynasties behind them. Meloni was raised by a single mother in a working-class neighbourhood in Rome, while Takaichi’s parents worked in local public service and manufacturing, the report by the New York Times said.
「ハッピーバースデー」で縦ノリする高市首相
49歳誕生日に合わせて来日したメローニ首相
サプライズでハッピーバースデーの曲が…チャッチャラ〜チャ〜チャ〜ラ〜♩
高市総理
↓
リズムに合わせて首を縦にフリフリ🫨どこでロック魂を出しとんねん！！笑
メローニ首相嬉しそうだから、いっか。 https://t.co/cjjDkhc41A pic.twitter.com/LFn8CpMVp2— きんじろー (@yoshu17939294) January 16, 2026
Italy and Japan face similar challenges, like ageing populations and labour shortages, even as both leaders advocate strict controls on immigration. They are navigating uncertainty in global politics as well, including managing ties with the United States under President Donald Trump, while balancing domestic pressures.
During the meeting, Meloni and Takaichi pledged to elevate bilateral ties to a “special strategic partnership”, spanning critical minerals, defence cooperation, space exploration and a joint fighter jet programme with Britain.
